MINISTERS today warned parents not to give young teenagers alcohol at home in an attempt to tackle high consumption among children.

Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, is set to unveil new guidelines which will advise parents to ban young people from drinking alcohol until they are 15. He is expected to say that older children can safely try small amounts of wine and low-strength beers with parental supervision.

Dr Donaldson's advice will set a new template for government alcohol policy, but sources say ministers are wary of condoning drinking by under-15s.

One source said: "This is advice for parents who want it, not a nanny-state attempt tell people how to raise their own kids."

Margaret Morrissey, spokeswoman for Parents Outloud, said: "The dilemma is that unless you introduce them slowly to drinking when they do start at 15 or 16 they go absolutely ballistic. So maybe there is something to be said for what happens in France where you can get diluted wine for youngsters."

Department of Children, Schools and Families data show how children regularly take alcohol from home. Nearly half of 11 to 15-year-olds claiming to drink 14 or more units a week say they get the alcohol from their parents. In 2006/7, under-18s were involved in nearly 10 per cent of all alcohol-related hospital admissions.

Ed Balls, the children's secretary, instigated the review of alcohol in 2007.He has said previously that he wants British children to be more sensible in their approach to alcohol.

Mr Balls said that at 16 or 17 he was allowed "a small glass of wine at lunch on a Sunday or a shandy or a Babycham at Christmas".

Presently there are no government guidelines on the amount under-18s should be allowed to drink, with or without their parents present.

Legally children can start drinking aged just five.

Dr Donaldson reportedly studied how the Netherlands approached the problem of underage drinking. The Dutch allow children under 16 and 17 to drink beers and wine that contain less than 15 per cent alcohol.

Now ministers want the current system overhauled so that children are introduced to alcohol more gradually and do not binge.

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