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Parents to be given alcohol health information

02/06/2008

Parents are to be given information about the health impacts of alcohol consumption to help them create a responsible drinking attitude in their children.

The initiative is one of a number outlined by the government today in its Youth Alcohol Action Plan.

Although the plan includes provision for tougher enforcement by police and the courts to reduce antisocial drinking in the young, it says parents have a vital role to play in helping to educate their children.

The plan has been devised to target the high levels of alcohol consumed by young people who drink.

Since 2000 the average weekly alcohol consumption among young people who drink has doubled.

As well as educating parents about the harm alcohol can cause, the action plan will see the government working with the alcohol industry to reduce the sale of alcohol to under 18s and to make marketing and promotion of alcohol more responsible.

Police and the courts will be encouraged to make it clear that unsupervised drinking by under 18s in public places is unacceptable.

And publicity campaigns and education in school will be geared towards helping young people understand the impact of alcohol consumption.

"We need to fundamentally influence young people's behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol," said children, schools and families secretary Ed Balls.

"This will involve talking to young people themselves but, crucially, parents tell us they want better, clearer information as they bring up their children."

Health secretary Alan Johnson added: "Young people drink, we know that. And instead of turning a blind eye or preaching at them, we must equip them and their parents with the information they need to stay healthy.

"Excess drinking caused an increasing number of people to be admitted to hospital last year. We want to ensure that the young people of today do not become patients of tomorrow because they have drunk too much alcohol."

The measures have been welcomed by the national agency Alcohol Concern.

Its chief executive Don Shenker said: "Changing behaviour among the young towards alcohol is a long-term project, requiring contributions from parents, government, the drinks industry and youth providers.

"We will continue therefore to urge industry and the government to work towards reducing the cultural impact that alcohol advertising and promotion has on British children.

"We also hope that the central government departments will co-operate to look at how local agencies can be resourced sufficiently to deliver on this vital agenda."