This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6596515.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Call to stop children's drinking | Call to stop children's drinking |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Parents who give alcohol to children aged under 15 should be prosecuted, a charity has said. | Parents who give alcohol to children aged under 15 should be prosecuted, a charity has said. |
The call comes in an Alcohol Concern report on the government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy. | The call comes in an Alcohol Concern report on the government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy. |
The study highlights figures that suggest a large increase in the amount of alcohol being drunk by 11 to 13-year-olds. | The study highlights figures that suggest a large increase in the amount of alcohol being drunk by 11 to 13-year-olds. |
Public health minister Caroline Flint told the BBC she did not think the proposals would be enforceable. | Public health minister Caroline Flint told the BBC she did not think the proposals would be enforceable. |
Alcohol Concern also wants a 16% rise in alcohol taxes, a ban on brewers selling to retailers at a loss, and a crackdown on under-age alcohol sales. | Alcohol Concern also wants a 16% rise in alcohol taxes, a ban on brewers selling to retailers at a loss, and a crackdown on under-age alcohol sales. |
It is currently illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under five except under medical supervision in an emergency. | It is currently illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under five except under medical supervision in an emergency. |
The report's figures, published by the NHS's information centre last November, showed boys aged 11 to 13 drank an average of 12 units of alcohol a week in 2006 compared to eight in 2000. | |
The figure for girls increased from five units to eight. | |
Alcohol Concern chief executive Srabani Sen said: "Our report shows that we are simply not doing enough to protect our children from alcohol. | Alcohol Concern chief executive Srabani Sen said: "Our report shows that we are simply not doing enough to protect our children from alcohol. |
"Binge drinking by children can have serious consequences for brain function, significantly raises the risk of alcohol dependency in later life and diminishes their life chances." | "Binge drinking by children can have serious consequences for brain function, significantly raises the risk of alcohol dependency in later life and diminishes their life chances." |
Sensible message | |
Ms Flint said there would be difficulties in enforcing a ban on drinking in the home. | Ms Flint said there would be difficulties in enforcing a ban on drinking in the home. |
"I don't think passing a law to ban alcohol for those under 15 would be enforceable or necessarily effective. | "I don't think passing a law to ban alcohol for those under 15 would be enforceable or necessarily effective. |
"But certainly one of the things that we do need to think about is how we all, as parents with families, do what we can do to have a sensible drinking message within our own homes." | "But certainly one of the things that we do need to think about is how we all, as parents with families, do what we can do to have a sensible drinking message within our own homes." |
Our report shows that we are simply not doing enough to protect our children from alcohol Srabani SenAlcohol Concern | |
She also said the government was serious about tackling alcohol-related harm and that levels of binge drinking were no longer rising. | She also said the government was serious about tackling alcohol-related harm and that levels of binge drinking were no longer rising. |
"Recent figures showed there has been a 5% drop between 2001 and 2006, of young people aged between 11 and 15 who had drunk alcohol in the previous week. | "Recent figures showed there has been a 5% drop between 2001 and 2006, of young people aged between 11 and 15 who had drunk alcohol in the previous week. |
"The new alcohol strategy to be published this summer will continue to drive reductions in alcohol related offending and harmful behaviour through a combination of education, treatment and tough penalties." | "The new alcohol strategy to be published this summer will continue to drive reductions in alcohol related offending and harmful behaviour through a combination of education, treatment and tough penalties." |
Ms Flint's views are supported by a Scottish charity which fears that putting alcohol completely out of bounds could make it more tempting. | |
Alcohol Focus Scotland is in favour of the continental approach of educating children responsibly about drinking and thinks that the ban proposal is a step too far. | |
'New social reality' | |
Alcohol Concern would include meal times at home in the ban on giving alcohol to young people. | |
Frank Soodeen, a campaigns officer for Alcohol Concern, said: "We are facing a new social reality where children seem to be adopting older behaviour at a younger age. | |
HAVE YOUR SAY It's better is to introduce alcohol at a young age, remove its mystery Hannah, Market Harborough Send us your comments | |
"One of the things we need to do is get parents on board." | |
He also suggested there was a need to consider new legislation regarding the issue. | |
The charity would like to see a ban on alcohol advertising before the 9pm television watershed and non-18 certificate films in cinemas. | |
The National Curriculum should include alcohol education to teach about the dangers of binge drinking, it added. | |
Alcohol Concern said the drink-drive limit should be lowered from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood. | |
The charity's Glass Half Empty report looked at the government's strategy which was published three years ago. | |
Meanwhile, the BBC's Helen Neil said there were calls for alcohol education to be included in the national curriculum in order to raise awareness about the dangers posed by drinking. | Meanwhile, the BBC's Helen Neil said there were calls for alcohol education to be included in the national curriculum in order to raise awareness about the dangers posed by drinking. |
She said tighter control on drinks advertising have also been suggested by campaigners. | She said tighter control on drinks advertising have also been suggested by campaigners. |