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Suburbs suffer with London's worst child drinking problems
Sophie Goodchild, Health Editor29.01.09
CHILDREN from the suburbs have the worst alcohol problems in London, new figures reveal today.
Those in outer areas such as Kingston and Richmond are up to six times more likely to get drunk than those living in the centre.
Only a quarter from outer boroughs say they have never touched an alcoholic drink while well over half the children living in areas such as Camden and Islington do not drink.
The findings, based on an Ofsted survey of 11- to 14-year-olds, also show that more than one in 10 children in the capital have been drunk once or twice in their lives.
The survey comes as the Government today issued advice to parents warning them not to let children under 15 drink. In addition, they were told that alcohol is "hazardous" for older teenagers and are being advised to supervise 15- to 17-year-olds who drink. The advice is that older children can safely try small amounts of wine and low-strength beers with parental supervision but Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said that an alcohol-free childhood is the best option.
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 to 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. Maybe there is something to be said for what happens in France where you can get diluted wine for youngsters." Alcohol Concern said urgent action was needed to tackle the damage caused by young people drinking.
Chief executive Don Shenker said: "It is clear that we must urgently address the harm that young people, families and the community experience as a result of youth drinking and alcohol misuse and encourage parents and carers to think about and eventually change their own drinking behaviour.
"It is also time for a much more holistic approach to tackling young people's alcohol consumption that brings together education, treatment and enforcement and public awareness of the potentially harmful long-term implications of heavy drinking during adolescence."
A total of 680 alcohol-related admissions in London each year are for children under 18.
Department of Children, Schools and Families data shows that 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.
Ed Balls, the children's secretary, instigated the review. 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".
Reader views (4)
I am a teenager in Australia and there is definitely a huge problem here. There is enormous pressure to drink and get involved in meaningless relationships.
I am seeing decent friends from decent families corrupted and becoming completely different people. What happened to class and self respect? Morals?
In many cases parents are to blame because they don't know where their kids are. These parents, if they do try to stop their kids doing things, are too late by the time the problem emerges because it is by that stage well-established.
I have been in tears countless times because of this problem and wondering will I be next? Like Keith Price said in his comment, kids see it as a badge of honour to be out getting drunk, it's uncool not to.
Some people such as myself can get away with not drinking and going completely wild, if you know how to carry it off.
But if all your friends and everyone your age and people on tv etc are, the pressure is huge. The more it happens the more it doesn't shock us and we become more used to it, more immune.
Regularly drunken eleven-year-olds, twelve-year-olds and younger having sex, thirteen-year-old drug users, early teen shoplifters, boyfriends much older.
I hope you are shocked, but unfortunately I'm not.
- Teen, Australia
Parents no longer have any control over their little darlings, thanks to the non-smacking, non-judgemental, no-winners-or-loosers rules that cover every aspect of a childs life these days. Half of them can't write their own name, yet they can quote their " human rights", word perfect. How long before we see a poor deprived little brat ( and his well paid legal aid lawyer ) take his parents to court for denying him his weekend alcopops?
- Linda, London
Strange thing about all this childhood drinking is that all the people who talk about it as if it is a new thing should look back in history.Children have been drinking beer etc for centuries,Alcoholic drink was seen as being safe as it had been boiled,so was cleared of nasty bugs etc.
They give the impression that children have not had an alcoholic drink before the 1960's
- Nigel, wimbledon
Young people of 13 who get boozed-up see it aa a badge of honour and look on non-drinkers in their schools as geeks. I know as I am a teacher
- Keith Price, Luton, England
