The Buckfast Code

Tonic wine Buckfast has been cited in 5000 crime reports by Scotland’s biggest police force in the last three years, an investigation has revealed.

The figures, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation, show that almost one in 10 of those crimes in the Strathclyde Police area was violent.
During the three-year-period, a glass Buckfast bottle was used as a weapon 114 times. Police said the figures suggested there is an association between Buckfast and violence.

Part of a BBC investigation, the findings are to be revealed in the programme BBC Scotland Investigates: The Buckfast Code, broadcast tonight.
Commenting on the figures, Superintendent Bob Hamilton of Strathclyde Police said: “The figures are fairly clear that Buckfast is mentioned in a number of crime reports and over the period requested, the Buckfast bottle was used 114 times as a weapon.

“I think it’s clear from the figures that there is an association there.”
The investigation also looks at the ingredients of the drink and how they may affect the behaviour of consumers, potentially making them anxious and aggressive if drunk in large quantities.

Around the world there is increasing concern about the effect of caffeine when mixed with alcohol.
Neuroscientist Dr Steven Alexander tells how there is 281 milligrammes of caffeine in a bottle of Buckfast – as much caffeine as in eight cans of coke.
Asked about the effects of consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, Dr Alexander said: “It’s going to have him bouncing around all over the place because the anxiety levels, the adrenalin will be running around.
“He will certainly be feeling very anxious, very aggressive.”

Buckfast is produced by Benedictine monks in a Devon monastery. But its distributor, J Chandler and Co, has previously rejected claims that it is responsible for anti-social behaviour among its drinkers.
When asked what would be the harm in reducing the caffeine levels, company spokesman Jim Wilson said: “Why should we? It’s been there for over 80 years. Why should we go about changing the recipe of something just to satisfy somebody’s whim?”

A request for an interview with the monks of Buckfast Abbey to respond to the issues raised was turned down, the BBC said.
However, a spokesman for Buckfast said: “The people who commit crimes are the ones who have to take responsibility.
“It is completely wrong to blame the knife manufacturer if someone stabs someone. Why just attack Buckfast?”
BBC Scotland Investigates: The Buckfast Code will be screened on BBC One Scotland at 7.30pm.