Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews

Primary school students as young as eight will be given lessons on alcohol abuse in a bid to stop thousands of young people from hitting the bottle.

The landmark program called Message in a Bottle will be rolled out to 240,000 children from Year 3 to Year 6 in 1600 public schools across NSW this term.

Frightened by the level of binge drinking among youngsters, education bosses also plan to involve parents in the $270,000 anti-alcohol program.

The school lessons come as a teenage girl was found staggering drunkenly down the street shortly after turning 15 yesterday.

An ambulance was called when the girl, who had been celebrating her birthday with friends, collapsed about 12.40pm on George St, Liverpool in Sydney's south-west.

Education Minister John Della Bosca said research showed most young people started drinking alcohol during their school years - some while still at primary school.

A major alcohol and drug survey of secondary school students found about one in ten children aged 12 to 17 reported binge drinking or drinking at risky levels. Up to 86 per cent report having consumed at least some alcohol.

In late childhood and adolescence the brain goes through dynamic changes and alcohol can serious damage short term and long term growth.

"Our classrooms provide an ideal setting for young people to be educated about the dangers," Mr Della Bosca said.

"Well before young people find themselves at a party being offered alcohol we are equipping our students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed judgements.

"We want our young people to grow up with attitudes to assist them to establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle free of problems associated with alcohol abuse."

Message in a Bottle contains specific lesson activities warning students about the risks of alcohol as well as stories appealing to children aged eight to 12.

A teaching manual discusses how to distribute information to families about the most serious risks associated with drinking such as foetal alcohol syndrome and how to encourage parents to play a positive role.

Mr Della Bosca said Message in a Bottle complemented drug education programs in the school curriculum.

Under the Government's Drugs in Schools Policy alcohol is banned from school premises during school hours.

"The consumption of alcohol is not permitted at any school function including those conducted outside school premises at any time when school students from any school are present," Mr Della Bosca said.

Daily Telegraph