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| Lax parents 'fuel binge drinking' | Lax parents 'fuel binge drinking' |
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| Parents who allow their children alcohol at home may be increasing the chances of future drinking problems, says England's chief medical officer. | Parents who allow their children alcohol at home may be increasing the chances of future drinking problems, says England's chief medical officer. |
| Sir Liam Donaldson accused some parents of a "laissez-faire" approach and said letting children taste alcohol to ready them for adulthood was "misguided". | Sir Liam Donaldson accused some parents of a "laissez-faire" approach and said letting children taste alcohol to ready them for adulthood was "misguided". |
| Evidence showed that this could lead to binge drinking in later life, he said. | Evidence showed that this could lead to binge drinking in later life, he said. |
| New official guidance says under-15s should drink no alcohol, with under-18s drinking only under supervision. | |
| Legally, parents and carers can give their children alcohol at home from the age of five onwards. | Legally, parents and carers can give their children alcohol at home from the age of five onwards. |
| 'Middle-class obsession' | 'Middle-class obsession' |
| However, Sir Liam described the idea of a glass of watered-down wine for a child as a "middle-class obsession", and criticised the approach among some parents towards their children getting drunk. | However, Sir Liam described the idea of a glass of watered-down wine for a child as a "middle-class obsession", and criticised the approach among some parents towards their children getting drunk. |
| Sir Liam Donaldson: "It's very important that adults...drink responsibly" | Sir Liam Donaldson: "It's very important that adults...drink responsibly" |
| He said: "Across England, 500,000 children between the ages of 11 to 15 years will have been drunk in the past four weeks. | He said: "Across England, 500,000 children between the ages of 11 to 15 years will have been drunk in the past four weeks. |
| "The science is clear - drinking, particularly at a young age, a lack of parental supervision, exposing children to drink-fuelled events and failing to engage with them as they grow up are the root causes from which our country's serious alcohol problem has developed." | "The science is clear - drinking, particularly at a young age, a lack of parental supervision, exposing children to drink-fuelled events and failing to engage with them as they grow up are the root causes from which our country's serious alcohol problem has developed." |
| He added: "The more [children] get a taste for it, the more likely they are to be heavy drinking adults or binge drinkers later in childhood." | He added: "The more [children] get a taste for it, the more likely they are to be heavy drinking adults or binge drinkers later in childhood." |
| Send us your comments | Send us your comments |
| He announced a major publicity campaign on the subject in England, which will get under way in January 2010. | He announced a major publicity campaign on the subject in England, which will get under way in January 2010. |
| Similar advice is expected in Scotland at around the same time. In Wales, a health spokesman said work was already under way to tackle drinking among young people. | Similar advice is expected in Scotland at around the same time. In Wales, a health spokesman said work was already under way to tackle drinking among young people. |
| One parent tells why she thinks a little alcohol benefits children | One parent tells why she thinks a little alcohol benefits children |
| The advice was welcomed by alcohol campaign groups, although Alcohol Concern said that the availability of alcohol at "pocket money prices" was a key factor in abuse and should be addressed by ministers. | The advice was welcomed by alcohol campaign groups, although Alcohol Concern said that the availability of alcohol at "pocket money prices" was a key factor in abuse and should be addressed by ministers. |
| Sir Liam said that he wanted to address the "ready availability" of cheap alcohol and called on supermarkets and corner shops to "take a stand". | Sir Liam said that he wanted to address the "ready availability" of cheap alcohol and called on supermarkets and corner shops to "take a stand". |
| SIR LIAM'S ACHIEVEMENTS Knighted in 2002Championed swine flu strategyPushed for smoke-free public placesRecommended a minimum alcohol priceMade changes to organ retention/consent post-Alder HeySet up the Health Protection Agency | SIR LIAM'S ACHIEVEMENTS Knighted in 2002Championed swine flu strategyPushed for smoke-free public placesRecommended a minimum alcohol priceMade changes to organ retention/consent post-Alder HeySet up the Health Protection Agency |
| He said that he would be able to "shout louder" about his suggestion for a 50p minimum price for alcohol - rejected by Prime Minister Gordon Brown - after he steps down next year. | He said that he would be able to "shout louder" about his suggestion for a 50p minimum price for alcohol - rejected by Prime Minister Gordon Brown - after he steps down next year. |
| Jeremy Todd, chief executive of the parenting charity Parentline Plus, praised the guidelines. | Jeremy Todd, chief executive of the parenting charity Parentline Plus, praised the guidelines. |
| He said: "Parents can have a huge influence on their child's drinking choices. | He said: "Parents can have a huge influence on their child's drinking choices. |
| Parental influence | Parental influence |
| "Rates of teenage drunkenness are higher amongst both the children of parents who drink to excess and the children of parents who abstain completely. | "Rates of teenage drunkenness are higher amongst both the children of parents who drink to excess and the children of parents who abstain completely. |
| "Whilst parents have a greater influence on their children's drinking patterns early on, as they grow older their friends have a greater influence. | "Whilst parents have a greater influence on their children's drinking patterns early on, as they grow older their friends have a greater influence. |
| "It is therefore crucial for parents to talk to their children about alcohol and its effects." | "It is therefore crucial for parents to talk to their children about alcohol and its effects." |
| Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: "We know that adults who drink sensibly tend to pass these habits on and that some families choose to introduce alcohol to their children younger than 15 in a supportive environment." | Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: "We know that adults who drink sensibly tend to pass these habits on and that some families choose to introduce alcohol to their children younger than 15 in a supportive environment." |
| He stressed that not drinking alcohol at all remained the "healthiest option" for children. | He stressed that not drinking alcohol at all remained the "healthiest option" for children. |
| Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: "While Sir Liam's statement is very strong and gives clear clinical guidance, the issues of pocket-money pricing and easy availability of alcohol need to be addressed if it is to have any impact on the life-style choices we are making." | Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: "While Sir Liam's statement is very strong and gives clear clinical guidance, the issues of pocket-money pricing and easy availability of alcohol need to be addressed if it is to have any impact on the life-style choices we are making." |