‘Prosecute parents who let young drink’
Parents who give alcohol to under-15s, even with a meal at home, should face prosecution, a charity claimed last night.
Alcohol Concern made
the recommendation as part of proposals to cut child
drinking. However, it was not whole-heartedly backed by experts north of the border.
The call from Alcohol Concern comes on the back of
figures, first published in November by the NHS, which showed the amount of drink being consumed by 11 to 13-year-olds had rocketed.
Girls in the age group admitted consuming an average of just over eight units of alcohol in 2006, compared with just under five in 2000. Boys of the same age admitted drinking an average of 12 units last year compared with eight in 2000, according to the survey carried out by the NHS Information Centre.
An Alcohol Concern spokesman said: "Currently it is legal to provide children as young as five with alcohol in a private home.
"Raising the age limit to 15 would send a stronger message to parents that underage consumption is an important issue, and help them think about whether they are helping their child drink alcohol."
Srabani Sen, Alcohol Concern chief executive, claimed the report showed that society was not doing enough to protect children from alcohol.
"Binge drinking by children can have serious consequences for brain function and also significantly raises the risk of alcohol dependency in later life and diminishes their life chances," said Ms Sen.
Threatening parents who give alcohol to under-15s with prosecution was given a lukewarm response from senior Scottish alcohol experts.
Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said the dangers of youngsters drinking was one which deserved to be highlighted and dealt with. However, he did not think having a set age limit was the way ahead.
"Good parenting is the answer," said Mr Law. "You would want parents to be responsible in introducing children to alcohol and I fear introducing legislation won't solve the problem.
"Clearly, immature bodies cannot deal with alcohol like adult bodies. Parents can maybe introduce their children to alcohol by offering them a diluted drink of it at a family meal to give them a taste.
"What is also very important is that the parents act responsibly themselves by not getting drunk in front of their children."
Tom Wood, chairman of the Scottish Association of
Alcohol and Drug Action Teams, said the continental approach was a good one, where children were sometimes allowed to drink small amounts with a family meal.
Mr Wood said: "I totally agree with Alcohol Concern from the point of view that young people drinking to excess is a matter that has to be dealt with. However, I do not agree with setting an arbitrary age for prosecution of parents."
Joe Fattorini, The Herald wine columnist, believes there is no harm in giving children a taste. "As the father of four, I'm pretty cautious about how much wine my children have," said Mr Fattorini. "But remember the lesson of Paracelsus: The dose makes the poison.' My children enjoy just a sip of wine as we enjoy a family dinner and they might also have a small glass when the grandparents visit.
"My children know more than most that moderate, restrained drinking is normal. They see me surrounded by drink, but they've never seen me drunk."
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Posted by: Frank Reilly, Glassford on 11:01pm Thu 26 Apr 07
Are Alcohol Concern insane? This is the most bizarre pronouncement I have heard on alcohol and young people. Encouraging social drinking, as those on the continent do, promotes positive behaviour in adolescence. Good parenting and positive role models play a big part in equiping young people to deal maturely with alcohol. Alcohol concern? Alcohol nonsense more like.
Are Alcohol Concern insane? This is the most bizarre pronouncement I have heard on alcohol and young people. Encouraging social drinking, as those on the continent do, promotes positive behaviour in adolescence. Good parenting and positive role models play a big part in equiping young people to deal maturely with alcohol. Alcohol concern? Alcohol nonsense more like.
Posted by: John(1) on 5:02am Fri 27 Apr 07
I think this would be a devastating policy for the tourist industry. Many families from mainland europe would view the policy as daft, and their indigenous tourist industries might just possibly highlight the fact as well! One or two shock news stories such as 'Frenchman pleads guilty to giving son wine' would not help matters.
I think this would be a devastating policy for the tourist industry. Many families from mainland europe would view the policy as daft, and their indigenous tourist industries might just possibly highlight the fact as well! One or two shock news stories such as 'Frenchman pleads guilty to giving son wine' would not help matters.
Posted by: David, Kinross on 7:32am Fri 27 Apr 07
Whilst I do not profess to be an expert on this matter, alcohol concern should think again. Turn towards the example of the continent, where parents permit alcohol consumption as part of family meal times, promoting responsible alcohol consumption amongst adolescents. Result is in no real binge drinking problem in countries like France, Italy etc. Where something is "taboo" children/teenagers are more likely to seek it out as a way of rebelling against their parents/authority etc. This policy will only further exacerbate the growing problem of binge drinking in the UK.
Whilst I do not profess to be an expert on this matter, alcohol concern should think again. Turn towards the example of the continent, where parents permit alcohol consumption as part of family meal times, promoting responsible alcohol consumption amongst adolescents. Result is in no real binge drinking problem in countries like France, Italy etc. Where something is "taboo" children/teenagers are more likely to seek it out as a way of rebelling against their parents/authority etc. This policy will only further exacerbate the growing problem of binge drinking in the UK.
Posted by: Lesley, Glasgow on 8:47am Fri 27 Apr 07
I really don't think this is the way to approach a change in the binge drinking attitudes of this country. As has already been stated the european countries where children are allowed to join their parents in a glass of wine with a meal etc do not face any where near the level of problems we are encountering here. My parents allowed me, and my siblings, to try out many different types of alcohol from my early teens - always within the safe environs of my own home. I experienced the horrors of consuming, slightly, more than was sensible and the inevitable consequences - under my parents watchful eye and was then put to bed to await the 'morning after' discussion on "what would have happened if I'd been out with friends and drunk the same volume". It certainly moulded my and my siblings approach to alcohol - none of drink to excess, enjoy an occassion glass of wine at a function and in fact tend to abstain on most occassions. I certainly intend to use the same approach with my children - no matter what the law says.
I really don't think this is the way to approach a change in the binge drinking attitudes of this country. As has already been stated the european countries where children are allowed to join their parents in a glass of wine with a meal etc do not face any where near the level of problems we are encountering here. My parents allowed me, and my siblings, to try out many different types of alcohol from my early teens - always within the safe environs of my own home. I experienced the horrors of consuming, slightly, more than was sensible and the inevitable consequences - under my parents watchful eye and was then put to bed to await the 'morning after' discussion on "what would have happened if I'd been out with friends and drunk the same volume". It certainly moulded my and my siblings approach to alcohol - none of drink to excess, enjoy an occassion glass of wine at a function and in fact tend to abstain on most occassions. I certainly intend to use the same approach with my children - no matter what the law says.
Posted by: Charlie, Glasgow on 8:59am Fri 27 Apr 07
Frankly this kind of scaremongering is appalling. The self appointed health police at Alcohol Concern have got this wrong BIG TIME. Parents who allow their children to have a glass of wine or a beer (or even two - gasp!) with their dinner are doing the sensible thing by demystifying the product. If consuming with parents, then the alcohol is in a controlled environment. Its the idiots out on the streets we need to worry about. This pronouncement is pure gibberish. Stupid parents who let their kids roam free and come home stinking of booze are the ones who should be prosecuted. They seem to have a brain disorder which allows them to remove the link between their little angel coming home at 12midnight and the increase in vandalism, fighting, ASBOs and all the rest of it. What do you think they do, go to a pals house to play cribbage? Get a grip.
Frankly this kind of scaremongering is appalling. The self appointed health police at Alcohol Concern have got this wrong BIG TIME. Parents who allow their children to have a glass of wine or a beer (or even two - gasp!) with their dinner are doing the sensible thing by demystifying the product. If consuming with parents, then the alcohol is in a controlled environment. Its the idiots out on the streets we need to worry about. This pronouncement is pure gibberish. Stupid parents who let their kids roam free and come home stinking of booze are the ones who should be prosecuted. They seem to have a brain disorder which allows them to remove the link between their little angel coming home at 12midnight and the increase in vandalism, fighting, ASBOs and all the rest of it. What do you think they do, go to a pals house to play cribbage? Get a grip.
Posted by: Bill Irvine, West Lothian on 9:08am Fri 27 Apr 07
At last someone is taking care of children seriously.
But we still have a long way to go. Feeding children inappropriate foods should also be punished by severe penalties. Any adult serving minors crisps, chips and other deep fried food, artificial colourings, excessive sugar salt or eggs should be locked up.
After that we should consider the compulsory dressing of children in full body armour.
Some might say that this is taking things too far, but if it saves only one child from serious injury caused by falling on a sharp object or falling down steps it will have been well worth it.
At last someone is taking care of children seriously.
But we still have a long way to go. Feeding children inappropriate foods should also be punished by severe penalties. Any adult serving minors crisps, chips and other deep fried food, artificial colourings, excessive sugar salt or eggs should be locked up.
After that we should consider the compulsory dressing of children in full body armour.
Some might say that this is taking things too far, but if it saves only one child from serious injury caused by falling on a sharp object or falling down steps it will have been well worth it.
Posted by: Debby, Glasgow on 9:38am Fri 27 Apr 07
There is worse to come judging by the front page of today's [bold]Daily Mash[/bold] !
www.thedailymash.co.uk
There is worse to come judging by the front page of today's
Daily Mash !
www.thedailymash.co.uk
Posted by: Big Brother, Channel 4 on 10:03am Fri 27 Apr 07
Parent, please make your way to the Diary Room.
Big Brother has seen from footage of a CCTV installed in your own home, to police your alcohol consumption, that you used [bold]parental discretion[/bold] in giving your children a glass of wine at Christmas dinner. Now, as you know, Big Brother will [bold]not tolerate[/bold] this blatant disregard of the house rules. You know that parental discretion is strictly against Big Brother's rules (i.e. the law), and as a result is going to withdraw all privelages (i.e. send you to prison) for a period to be defined by Big Brother, and upon release enter you in the child abuse register. Now apologise to Big Brother for your blatant defiance.
Any further misdemeanours of this time will be punished by your details as an unfit parent being leaked to The Sun. Do you understand?
Parent, please make your way to the Diary Room.
Big Brother has seen from footage of a CCTV installed in your own home, to police your alcohol consumption, that you used
parental discretion in giving your children a glass of wine at Christmas dinner. Now, as you know, Big Brother will
not tolerate this blatant disregard of the house rules. You know that parental discretion is strictly against Big Brother's rules (i.e. the law), and as a result is going to withdraw all privelages (i.e. send you to prison) for a period to be defined by Big Brother, and upon release enter you in the child abuse register. Now apologise to Big Brother for your blatant defiance.
Any further misdemeanours of this time will be punished by your details as an unfit parent being leaked to The Sun. Do you understand?
Posted by: avrom, edinburgh on 10:19am Fri 27 Apr 07
An absolutely absurd suggestion-that there should be a law introduced controlling what parents do in their own homes with their children. My parents always had a decanter of wine on the table on Fridays. Being jewish, all the children from the age of 3 were given a small glass of red wine. And in the synagogue on a Saturday morning the children had cake and wine supervised by the adults. No one thought of this as being wrong.
An absolutely absurd suggestion-that there should be a law introduced controlling what parents do in their own homes with their children. My parents always had a decanter of wine on the table on Fridays. Being jewish, all the children from the age of 3 were given a small glass of red wine. And in the synagogue on a Saturday morning the children had cake and wine supervised by the adults. No one thought of this as being wrong.
Posted by: Bruce, Inverness on 12:46pm Fri 27 Apr 07
The increase in teenage drinking comes from unsupervised groups of children drinking outwith the home. A supervised introduction to social drinking within the home at any age, with information regarding the consequences of over indulging, is going to give out a better message. As a parent of teenagers I am not perfect but an error I feel some of my peers make is in allowing children far TOO MUCH unsupervised time outwith the home because its the easy option.
Children that do not join clubs and/or wander the streets invariably end up dabbling, sometimes to excess. I know because I did it myself a generation ago.
The increase in teenage drinking comes from unsupervised groups of children drinking outwith the home. A supervised introduction to social drinking within the home at any age, with information regarding the consequences of over indulging, is going to give out a better message. As a parent of teenagers I am not perfect but an error I feel some of my peers make is in allowing children far TOO MUCH unsupervised time outwith the home because its the easy option.
Children that do not join clubs and/or wander the streets invariably end up dabbling, sometimes to excess. I know because I did it myself a generation ago.
Posted by: mike, Partick on 2:13pm Fri 27 Apr 07
This sounds like an idea which hasn't really been thought through particularly well and also one which proposes a degree of intervention in family life that is unneccessary. I suspect that there are many factors that can be cited as potential causes of binge drinking and drinking more generally by teenagers. However, I don't think that parent's who look to prepare their children to avoid such problems by allowing them occassionaly to have a glass of wine or whatever at home are adding to the problem. My view would be that they are helping solve the problem.
This sounds like an idea which hasn't really been thought through particularly well and also one which proposes a degree of intervention in family life that is unneccessary. I suspect that there are many factors that can be cited as potential causes of binge drinking and drinking more generally by teenagers. However, I don't think that parent's who look to prepare their children to avoid such problems by allowing them occassionaly to have a glass of wine or whatever at home are adding to the problem. My view would be that they are helping solve the problem.
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