Binge drinking adults 'are normal'

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A third of youngsters questioned by researchers said they believed five or more glasses of wine in one night was normal for adults.

More than a quarter of children thought drinking four pints of beer in an evening was usual.

Both are above levels the health service considers as binge drinking. The NHS says men who drink more than five glasses of wine or three and a half pints of beer a day are bingeing. For women, four glasses of wine a day is considered as binge drinking.

The study questioned nearly 1,500 nine to 11 year-old children about their perceptions of adult alcohol consumption.

Sixty percent of those surveyed said they believe people on TV drink too much, children's health charity Life Education said

And about the same proportion told researchers people drink alcohol to forget about their problems. Nearly half of young children said they thought adults who drank were trying to be cool.

Stephen Burgess, National Director of Life Education said: "As educationalists, health workers, the media, advertisers or simply parents we must take these results seriously and consider carefully the messages we are sending to children.

"We need to look at what role models we wish to provide and to make sure children understand that a healthy life does not involve excessive drinking."

Last month it emerged more than 160 children are admitted to hospital each with with alcohol-related problems. The numbers are up more than 50 per cent since 1996 and up seven per cent in the last year.