Council Denies School’s Proposal to Serve Alcohol to Sixth-Formers

Queenswood, a private girls’ school in Hertfordshire, has been informed that it cannot proceed with its plan to offer alcohol to its sixth-form students at social gatherings. The school had proposed an “educational” system involving alcoholic drinks vouchers for 16 to 18-year-olds at infrequent evening social events. Nevertheless, a health consultant from the county council voiced criticism of the concept, asserting that it carried the risk of “normalising” drinking and lacked an educational foundation. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council subsequently denied the application, partly attributing the refusal to the school’s failure to present a proposed alcohol policy. Under current regulations, individuals aged 16 and 17 are legally permitted to consume beer, cider, or wine with a meal when accompanied by an adult. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that the council’s decision to reject this application was made during a meeting earlier in the week. Stephanie Hall, the school’s head of catering, informed the council’s alcohol and regulated entertainment sub-committee that students with parental consent would be allowed to consume up to two glasses of beer, cider, or wine with a meal at events occurring approximately three times annually. Ceri Stokes, the school’s deputy head teacher, stated that other schools had organized events featuring “sociable drinking,” which were found to be “educational” by enabling students to develop “tactics” for refusing alcohol. She further explained that the proposal’s objective was to “make it so they’re learning skills.” For certain girls who had not previously encountered such circumstances, she noted that the school, located near Potters Bar, aimed to “give them little tools and tricks so they can prepare themselves.” In contrast, Aideen Dunne, a public health consultant at Hertfordshire County Council, suggested that the proposed scheme was more social in nature than educational. She asserted, “This is not an evidence-based approach to harm reduction for young people.” She also stated, “Any intervention that seeks to normalise alcohol consumption among young people should not be viewed necessarily as in the students’ best interests.” “We don’t necessarily need to equip young people with resilience and skills through giving them alcohol. We don’t give them drugs… we teach them on the harms,” she further commented. Welwyn-Hatfield councillors expressed apprehension regarding the proposal, with one remarking that it was “a shame” the school had not submitted a proposed alcohol policy alongside its application. Although the school indicated it would implement an alcohol policy if permission were granted, councillors cited the present absence of such a policy as a basis for denying the application.