Update on Underage Drinking
Almost 100 children aged under eight have been admitted to A&E nationwide over the past year for alcohol related problems.These figures come just days after the Government review of 24-hour licensing and show that the number of girls under eighteen admitted to A&E has risen by almost 50% in the last 5 years, with almost 25% more boys under eighteen being admitted in the same period.
These are shocking figures which show that binge drinking could well be out of control. Problems with health may be a consequence of this binge drinking and we all must help to reverse this trend, by recognising the scale of the problem. Cracking down on pubs and shops that sell alcohol to underage youngsters must be a priority, but parents too must be aware of the problem and help to stem the rising tide of youngsters who cannot wait to try alcohol.
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Under 18s want to drink like young adults; this means that clamping down on underage sales without first tackling 18-24 drinking behaviour makes as much sense as leading a horse to water and then telling it not to drink.
And what if such efforts are successful, how prepared will under 18s be to responsible drinking if when they turn 18, if they’ve never touched a drop?
Similarly educating 18-24s people not to drink to excess and then having bars which encourage this very behaviour (switching off the rational control switches), has got to be the height of stupidity.
The only sensible approach is focussing on 18-24 year olds public drinking culture that establishes norms for under 18s and norms for home consumption. I read that Leeds Council has cottoned on to this with a new initiative.