Drink Up!

Since the introduction of Britain’s twenty four hour licensing laws, the number of teenagers receiving medical treatment after drink binges has risen by nearly 15 per cent.
The legal age you can drink within the United Kingdom is 18. Recommendations have been made to the goverment to increase it to 21 years of age.
Teenagers were admitted to hospitals for treatment 8,582 times between April 2005 to April 2006; an increase of nearly 1,000 more than in the previous year.
The figure, the first published following the introduction of the new laws in November 2005, is the biggest rise in a decade.

Today, children as young as 12 and 13 are being admitted on a daily basis to casualty departments countrywide with alcohol related issues.
Hundreds more under the age of 18 have suffered liver disease, blood poisoning and mental disorders, including depression and psychosis - as a result of alcohol.
The amount of alcohol consumed by girls aged 11-13 has increased by 82.6% between 2000-2006, while for boys the number has gone up by 43.4% during the same period.

Alcohol Concerns report shows that supermarket alcohol promotions were shown twice as often before 9pm (which is when children are more likely to be watching TV) compared to after.
Furthermore, 82% of films shown in cinemas featuring alcohol adverts have ratings of 15 or below.

So, it appears the legislation has not worked.
The increasing rise of alcohol consumption in teenagers is alarming.
This is our future generation we are talking about.
The constant availability of alcohol has had a knock on effect.
It makes perfect sense. If you increase availability, you increase consumption.
Many supermarkets are now open around the clock. Shop keepers turn a blind eye to the buyer’s age, or the youth of today simply look much older than they are, so no questions are asked.
Shops of all descriptions beckon with cut price offers, easily accessible for children who in this modern day have money in their pockets.
Lack of standardized proof of age schemes does not help. ID is rarely requested, and I know for a fact, most who would be questioned, simply bribe someone older to buy it for them.

The licensing laws were changed without any reference to what was happening in today’s society.

Of course, we cannot put full responsibility onto an over stretched, rather ignorant government.
Many parents need to take some form of control and educate their off-spring.
You can ban the use of drugs and alcohol in the confines of conversations and the four walls of your own home, make it very clear you absolutely forbid it, but it does not mean you can prevent your children experimenting.
It has nothing to do with being “good” or “bad”, because, as we all know, children explore forbidden fruits, for pleasure and acceptance.

A parent’s major concern must be the prevention of binge drinking, which leads to other wider issues, such as crime, drug use, and sex, or worse, date rape while under the influence, leading to risk of unwanted pregnancy and disease.
Talk openly about alcohol and other drugs with your children. Educate yourself and know your facts. Be able to outline the effects of each drug as well as the side effects felt. Don't make it so much a forbidden topic, but be open and candid on the topic. Reinforce to your child how precious their lives are, how important their self respect is and your love and faith in them.

I have two teenagers. My daughter from the age of 12 has had a small glass of wine on special meal occasions. Alcohol has never been a taboo thing in our home, but we lead by example. Alcohol is rarely kept in the house and we certainly never were drunk in front of our children either.
You teach by example.

It now appears Alcohol Concern want parents who supply under 15-year-olds with alcohol at home - including during meal times - to face prosecution. I personally think this is ludicrous.
Funded research suggests that teens who drink alcohol with their parents are LESS likely than others to have either consumed alcohol or abused it in recent weeks.
How can we teach by example if our rights as parents are taken away from us?

My 16 year old drinks. I don’t know a sixteen year old that doesn’t drink. She knows I am aware she drinks. But, she drinks within a safe level; she knows her limits, because it holds no forbidden temptation. She has been educated, has no hang ups in asking questions relating to teenage peer pressure, and knows she is safe in the knowledge she is loved, does not have to prove to anyone ANYTHING.

Of course there are parents not as responsible, or caring, but how will you control drinking in those homes, unless you stand on watch for days on end. Does the government have those type of resources? I doubt it!
Those irresponsible parents most of the time, don’t care where their children even are. These children spend little time at home and rather escape to do as they wish.

Why doesn’t the government focus on the children that need focusing on? The ones that fall through the gaps and loopholes, don’t attend school, or are excluded for drinking at school (14% are excluded or suspended through drinking at school), constantly arrested for petty crimes, cause anti social behaviour, and need the support and resources in place to provide education and care.
Our education system must reinforce the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, and although it is part of the P.S.H.E programme in schools, it is not consistent enough to have any effect.

How about the government ploughs some money into that? Educate from primary age, not when it’s too late.

The United Kingdom has the lowest level of child well-being among the world’s richest countries. It is also the most violent country in Europe.
So what does our government do?
Increases alcohol taxes, opening hours are extended, does this not reek of a money spin?! Ministers promised the new legislation would bring about a revolution in the UK's drinking culture. They weren’t far off there!