Daily Echo - 4 June 2008

Written by Sandra Gidley on Wed 4th Jun 2008

Alcohol has been hitting the headlines again over the past week or two. Although it is an important subject I can't help feel that various initiatives have been launched in a desperate attempt for the Government to be seen to be "tackling problems". It also provides a diversion so that people are distracted from worrying about day to day concerns of rising food, fuel and mortgage prices.

There have been a number of announcements about alcohol but the latest is that parents are to be held responsible for their children's drinking and will be issued guidance on how much young people should be given to drink and when. It is interesting to note that the Dutch have a similar problem but have taken a harder line approach by saying that children should not be given access to alcohol at all.

Many of my generation were introduced to alcohol at home. We were allowed a small glass of something and felt that we were being treated as adults. The theory is that we then didn't feel the need to secretly buy alcohol and then go out and get smashed with our friends. I did at one time subscribe to this theory but we also have to bear in mind that the average household consumes far more alcohol than in a few decades ago. Drink is much more freely available and much more is consumed at home. What is forgotten is that young people also learn by example so, if they see their parents regularly overindulging then they will believe that this is perfectly acceptable behaviour.

Recent police exercises have revealed that when young teenagers get together for a party the alcohol is obtained from home, often with the full knowledge of the parents. Most parents are unaware of recent studies which show that alcohol is the second most dangerous drug, second only to heroin. Because alcohol is legal and freely available there is a complacency about its use - and even its abuse. In many ways the Government are on the right track by tackling parents but the approach is still too wishy washy. If we are serious about tackling the alcohol problem we need strong messages and strong sanctions combined with a serious education programme.

Also, and I hesitate to say this at a time of rising food prices, we do need to look at the price and availability of alcohol. I was in Norway recently. Alcohol was incredibly expensive and affected the amount we all drank. We still had a good time and one or two of the party admitted to feeling all the better for the lower consumption. Availability was also highly restricted compared to the UK where it is even available from the average garage. If we are serious about tackling alcohol related problems is it now time for a more hard line approach?