Under 15 "booze ban" expected
- 00:01:56
- ITN
Under 15 "booze ban" expected
Children under 15 should not drink any alcohol, the Government is to advise parents. There has been debate over whether youngsters should be given small amounts of alcohol with meals or when out socially. But Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government's chief medical officer, is expected to say that an alcohol-free childhood "is the safest option" for good health. For those aged 15 to 17, any drinking should be with the guidance of a parent or carer or in a supervised environment, he will add. If this age group do drink, it should be infrequent and "certainly on no more than one day a week", he will say. The Government said the guidance, which is open to consultation and could be changed, was not about it being a nanny state. It said it was wanted to "empower" parents by giving them information to make good decisions concerning their children. Sir Liam will say the guidance, to be launched by Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Health Secretary Alan Johnson later, draws on extensive medical research as well as evidence on the impact of alcohol on children and young people. Such advice is the first ever produced for parents in England about the risks of young people drinking alcohol. The guidance says that parents and their offspring should be aware that drinking, even at 15 or older, can be harmful to health and follows interviews with parents who said they wanted more information on alcohol and young people.
ITN | January 29, 2009
