discrimination

Children are facing terrible discrimination according to a poll conducted for the charity Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE). CRAE, who received nearly half (£270K) of their income [.pdf] (£570k) from the Big Lottery Fund last year, are incensed that this government has done little to reduce the blatant inequality that 16 year olds face while shopping.

Their survey shows that 49% of 16 and 17 year olds had been refused purchases of tobacco and alcohol purely because of their age while 23% of them had been forced to pay full fare on public transport.

"This intolerable discrimination should have been addressed by the Equality Bill" said senior campaigner Carol Lowly-Wine "but we've recently discovered that the provisions only cover adults. Preventing an individual from purchasing a legally available product purely based on their age is utterly ridiculous. Chronologically disadvantaged citizens need our support, not discrimination, to allow them to live full and productive lives."