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Sunday, 22 November 2009

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Parents

Children and alcohol

Young people see alcohol on sale all around them, and they might also see their parents drinking alcohol. This can make it difficult for them to understand that alcohol can be dangerous. Find out how to help your child develop a healthy attitude towards alcohol, and see what the law says about underage drinking.

What parents of younger children can do

The following tips might help your child develop a healthy attitude to alcohol as they grow up:

if your child is curious about alcohol, talk to them about it - tell them about both the negative and social sides of drinking
make sure young children don't drink alcohol by accident or without your permission - if you have alcohol at home, keep it out of reach
if you drink, set a good example and drink in moderation - it will help your child develop a sensible attitude to alcohol
respect the law regarding young people and alcohol - don't give alcohol to your child if they are underage
make sure the information your child has on alcohol is accurate - for more information visit the Talk to FRANK website

Alcohol - information for children from Talk to FRANK Opens new window

What parents of older children can do

It's difficult to know when to let teenagers drink. There is no 'right' age, but advice from the government's Chief Medical Officer is that young people under 15 should not drink at all. Once your child has started drinking however, these tips will help them learn to drink safely:

encourage your child to stick to lower-strength brands and not to drink too quickly
try not to overreact if your child drinks against your wishes, or drinks too much ('too much' is up to you as a parent)
if your child has drunk excessively, explain how you feel and encourage them to talk about why it happened
agree rules on alcohol at parties and be around if your child has a party at home
if your child is going to be drinking, give them starchy food (like bread, pasta and rice) so they won't be drinking on an empty stomach
remove temptations at home like your own stock of drink (especially spirits)
make sure your child has a way of getting home safely at night

What the law says

There are strict laws governing alcohol consumption in the UK. It is important to check that you are not breaking the law by allowing your child to drink. It is against the law:

to give alcohol to a child under five (except in a medical emergency)
to be drunk in charge of a child under seven in a public place or on licensed premises
to sell alcohol to someone under 18, anywhere
for an adult to buy or attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of someone under 18
for someone under 18 to buy alcohol, attempt to buy alcohol or to be sold alcohol in any circumstances (unless acting at the request of the police or a weights and measures inspector)
for someone under 18 to drink alcohol in licensed premises, with one exception - 16 and 17 year olds accompanied by an adult can drink but not buy beer, wine and cider with a table meal
for an adult to buy alcohol for a person under 18 for consumption on licensed premises, except as above