UK plans to make it illegal to give booze to under 15s
Binge drinking by young Britons aged as young as 11 has rocketed in the last few years particularly among girls, a report on Friday said, prompting calls to make it illegal to give alcohol to children under 15.
The study by Alcohol Concern said the amount of alcohol consumed by girls had increased by 82.6 per cent between 2000 and 2006, with boys drinking 43.4 per cent more. “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,” said Srabani Sen, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern.
“Our report shows that we are simply not doing enough to protect our children from alcohol,” he said.
The research highlighted in the report found that girls, aged 11-13, who had drunk alcohol in the last seven days, had consumed more than 8 units. For boys the figure was 12 units.
Last year official figures showed 20 children a day were being admitted to hospital because of excessive drinking, while ambulance crews say they are regularly picking up youngsters who have drunk themselves senseless.
Alcohol Concern, a voluntary agency on alcohol misuse, called for the law to be changed to make it illegal to provide anyone under 15 with alcohol. Currently it is illegal to sell alcohol to under 18s in a pub or shop, but adults can give drinks to children as young as 5 in a private home.
Reuters
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