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| Alcohol education 'not working' | Alcohol education 'not working' |
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| Tougher methods of teaching children about alcohol and tobacco are needed to combat the rise in consumption, a government advisory panel says. | Tougher methods of teaching children about alcohol and tobacco are needed to combat the rise in consumption, a government advisory panel says. |
| The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) calls for measures such as raising duty on alcohol and increasing the legal smoking age from 16 to 18. | The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) calls for measures such as raising duty on alcohol and increasing the legal smoking age from 16 to 18. |
| But a radical proposal for a new lower drink-drive limit for young adults was immediately ruled out by ministers. | But a radical proposal for a new lower drink-drive limit for young adults was immediately ruled out by ministers. |
| The government has spent £70m on drugs education since 1997. | The government has spent £70m on drugs education since 1997. |
| But having reviewed research from across the world, a committee of doctors and scientists on the ACMD concluded that the success of school-based schemes was "slight or non-existent" and could even be "counter-productive". | But having reviewed research from across the world, a committee of doctors and scientists on the ACMD concluded that the success of school-based schemes was "slight or non-existent" and could even be "counter-productive". |
| Among the measures it recommends are to ban alcohol advertising on TV and to prevent brewers sponsoring sports and music events. | |
| The council's chairman, Dr Laurence Gruer, said urgent action was needed to deal with alcohol use. | |
| "There has actually been a decline in the use of cannabis in recent years, so it's not all doom and gloom by any means in terms of drug use. | "There has actually been a decline in the use of cannabis in recent years, so it's not all doom and gloom by any means in terms of drug use. |
| "We've seen over the last 10 to 12 years, particularly among young women, our consumption of alcohol has virtually doubled. | "We've seen over the last 10 to 12 years, particularly among young women, our consumption of alcohol has virtually doubled. |
| "We are also seeing across the whole of the UK a dramatic rise in the amount of cirrhosis of the liver that's caused by chronic drinking and we are now the fastest growing country in Europe in terms of alcoholic cirrhosis" | "We are also seeing across the whole of the UK a dramatic rise in the amount of cirrhosis of the liver that's caused by chronic drinking and we are now the fastest growing country in Europe in terms of alcoholic cirrhosis" |
| A government spokesman said: "Smoking rates among young people aged 11-15 years reduced to 9% in 2005 and we are already consulting on raising the legal age to purchase tobacco from 16 to 18. | |
| "We are preventing the sale of alcohol to children by cracking down on irresponsible retailers and working with the industry to reduce underage sales of alcohol." | |
| Influence | Influence |
| Although children should be given drugs advice, the panel said many people took up drugs or increased usage in their late teens and early 20s, so they should also be targeted. | Although children should be given drugs advice, the panel said many people took up drugs or increased usage in their late teens and early 20s, so they should also be targeted. |
| The 100-page report said there were wide variations in standards of drug-education programmes across the country and urged schools to provide "accurate, credible and consistent information". | The 100-page report said there were wide variations in standards of drug-education programmes across the country and urged schools to provide "accurate, credible and consistent information". |
| The government has no plans to change the drink-drive blood alcohol limit from 80mg for young drivers or anyone else Stephen LadymanTransport minister | The government has no plans to change the drink-drive blood alcohol limit from 80mg for young drivers or anyone else Stephen LadymanTransport minister |
| The report said excess drinking caused the most widespread problems and suggested cutting the alcohol limit for drivers under 25 to reduce accidents. | The report said excess drinking caused the most widespread problems and suggested cutting the alcohol limit for drivers under 25 to reduce accidents. |
| This would amount to reducing the legal limit from 80 to 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood for motorists aged 17 to 25. | This would amount to reducing the legal limit from 80 to 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood for motorists aged 17 to 25. |
| Dr Gruer said it was logical to target young drivers. | Dr Gruer said it was logical to target young drivers. |
| "Young drivers are more likely to have accidents and are also failing breath tests more frequently than older drivers." | "Young drivers are more likely to have accidents and are also failing breath tests more frequently than older drivers." |
| But Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman said there were no planned changes "for young drivers or anyone else". | But Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman said there were no planned changes "for young drivers or anyone else". |
| Other recommendations in the report included: | Other recommendations in the report included: |
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| The ACMD said British children are some of the biggest cannabis, alcohol and tobacco users in Europe. | The ACMD said British children are some of the biggest cannabis, alcohol and tobacco users in Europe. |
| Between a fifth and a quarter of 15-year-olds are regular smokers, half drink alcohol at least once a week and nearly a quarter have used illegal drugs in the past month. | Between a fifth and a quarter of 15-year-olds are regular smokers, half drink alcohol at least once a week and nearly a quarter have used illegal drugs in the past month. |
| The council is an influential body and ministers acted on one of its previous recommendations by re-classifying cannabis. | The council is an influential body and ministers acted on one of its previous recommendations by re-classifying cannabis. |
| Alcohol abuse among young people has provoked concern | Alcohol abuse among young people has provoked concern |
| Ministers are likely to consider the council's latest proposals carefully, says BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw. | Ministers are likely to consider the council's latest proposals carefully, says BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw. |
| In response to the report, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said it backed moves preventing young people accessing tobacco, but it was up to the government to decide at what age the threshold should be. | In response to the report, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said it backed moves preventing young people accessing tobacco, but it was up to the government to decide at what age the threshold should be. |
| A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said cutting the drink-drive limit to 50mg for all age groups would save 65 lives and 230 serious injuries a year on British roads. | A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said cutting the drink-drive limit to 50mg for all age groups would save 65 lives and 230 serious injuries a year on British roads. |
| But the RAC Foundation said it would make little difference and urged motorists not to drink any alcohol before getting behind the wheel. | But the RAC Foundation said it would make little difference and urged motorists not to drink any alcohol before getting behind the wheel. |