Drink Up!

The growing drinking trend in the UK among teens.

 

Since the introduction of Britain’s twenty four hour licensing laws, the number of teenagers receiving medical treatment after drink binges has risen by nearly 15 per cent.
The legal age you can drink within the United Kingdom is 18. Recommendations have been made to the goverment to increase it to 21 years of age.
Teenagers were admitted to hospitals for treatment 8,582 times between April 2005 to April 2006; an increase of nearly 1,000 more than in the previous year.
The figure, the first published following the introduction of the new laws in November 2005, is the biggest rise in a decade.

Today, children as young as 12 and 13 are being admitted on a daily basis to casualty departments countrywide with alcohol related issues.
Hundreds more under the age of 18 have suffered liver disease, blood poisoning and mental disorders, including depression and psychosis - as a result of alcohol.
The amount of alcohol consumed by girls aged 11-13 has increased by 82.6% between 2000-2006, while for boys the number has gone up by 43.4% during the same period.

Alcohol Concerns report shows that supermarket alcohol promotions were shown twice as often before 9pm (which is when children are more likely to be watching TV) compared to after.
Furthermore, 82% of films shown in cinemas featuring alcohol adverts have ratings of 15 or below.

So, it appears the legislation has not worked.
The increasing rise of alcohol consumption in teenagers is alarming.
This is our future generation we are talking about.
The constant availability of alcohol has had a knock on effect.
It makes perfect sense. If you increase availability, you increase consumption.
Many supermarkets are now open around the clock. Shop keepers turn a blind eye to the buyer’s age, or the youth of today simply look much older than they are, so no questions are asked.
Shops of all descriptions beckon with cut price offers, easily accessible for children who in this modern day have money in their pockets.
Lack of standardized proof of age schemes does not help. ID is rarely requested, and I know for a fact, most who would be questioned, simply bribe someone older to buy it for them.

The licensing laws were changed without any reference to what was happening in today’s society.

Of course, we cannot put full responsibility onto an over stretched, rather ignorant government.
Many parents need to take some form of control and educate their off-spring.
You can ban the use of drugs and alcohol in the confines of conversations and the four walls of your own home, make it very clear you absolutely forbid it, but it does not mean you can prevent your children experimenting.
It has nothing to do with being “good” or “bad”, because, as we all know, children explore forbidden fruits, for pleasure and acceptance.

A parent’s major concern must be the prevention of binge drinking, which leads to other wider issues, such as crime, drug use, and sex, or worse, date rape while under the influence, leading to risk of unwanted pregnancy and disease.
Talk openly about alcohol and other drugs with your children. Educate yourself and know your facts. Be able to outline the effects of each drug as well as the side effects felt. Don't make it so much a forbidden topic, but be open and candid on the topic. Reinforce to your child how precious their lives are, how important their self respect is and your love and faith in them.

I have two teenagers. My daughter from the age of 12 has had a small glass of wine on special meal occasions. Alcohol has never been a taboo thing in our home, but we lead by example. Alcohol is rarely kept in the house and we certainly never were drunk in front of our children either.
You teach by example.

It now appears Alcohol Concern want parents who supply under 15-year-olds with alcohol at home - including during meal times - to face prosecution. I personally think this is ludicrous.
Funded research suggests that teens who drink alcohol with their parents are LESS likely than others to have either consumed alcohol or abused it in recent weeks.
How can we teach by example if our rights as parents are taken away from us?

My 16 year old drinks. I don’t know a sixteen year old that doesn’t drink. She knows I am aware she drinks. But, she drinks within a safe level; she knows her limits, because it holds no forbidden temptation. She has been educated, has no hang ups in asking questions relating to teenage peer pressure, and knows she is safe in the knowledge she is loved, does not have to prove to anyone ANYTHING.

Of course there are parents not as responsible, or caring, but how will you control drinking in those homes, unless you stand on watch for days on end. Does the government have those type of resources? I doubt it!
Those irresponsible parents most of the time, don’t care where their children even are. These children spend little time at home and rather escape to do as they wish.

Why doesn’t the government focus on the children that need focusing on? The ones that fall through the gaps and loopholes, don’t attend school, or are excluded for drinking at school (14% are excluded or suspended through drinking at school), constantly arrested for petty crimes, cause anti social behaviour, and need the support and resources in place to provide education and care.
Our education system must reinforce the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, and although it is part of the P.S.H.E programme in schools, it is not consistent enough to have any effect.

How about the government ploughs some money into that? Educate from primary age, not when it’s too late.

The United Kingdom has the lowest level of child well-being among the world’s richest countries. It is also the most violent country in Europe.
So what does our government do?
Increases alcohol taxes, opening hours are extended, does this not reek of a money spin?! Ministers promised the new legislation would bring about a revolution in the UK's drinking culture. They weren’t far off there!

Reviews

[Aaron M. Anderson]

Very well-argued! I don't know much about underage drinking in the United Kingdom, but here in the U.S. it's a pretty big problem. Yesterday I saw no less than three alcohol commercials in the same program on TV, and I was rather embarrassed watching them with my fifteen-year-old neighbor, who is already into some other unmentionable addictions. What are kids supposed to think when everyone around them says that it's okay and that it won't hurt? You're absolutely right--most of the job is in the parent's hands. Nicely done!

[Eric]

This was a very informative piece. Here in the US it's 21 and I don't think that has changed a thing. The stats are probably the same. No matter the age, if you want it, you can get alcohol. Sadly, alcohol is now the least of our worries with the drugs that are so readily available.
Spoken true, parents are ultimately the one's responsible for their children and how they raise them, most parents merely children themselves never learned responsability from their own parents.
Thanks for sharing this.

[Ryan Gilroy]

We in America have a high drinking age compared to you seeing that one's ability to be drafted into warfare and yet still can't walk up to the bar. I do like your piece seeing it seems to make people responsible for their own dismay and shouldn't really be labelled at the foot at the government. I feel people should realize and excersie personal responsiblity seeing that the government can't solve the problems of every single person seeing it doesn't know how to fit all ten fingers in a glove that's meant for one. I do like what you wish to prove, but I believe she's shown that communication is better then no communication at all.

[Watson Trippy]

Wow. I did not know any of that happening in the UK. Teens will do anything to get alcohol. Whenever the topic of alcohol came up in my family all my parents said was to not drink. They never talked about the effects it can have and why not to drink. I think if parents told their kids the physical and emotional damage it can cause will make them want to not drink as much as before.Or even at all. For me I can honestly say I've never drank before.Honestly I don't really plan on it. This was definitely an eye opener for me.

[Orlando Furioso]

A fine piece of thoughtful journalism. I think there were votes in being seen to be 'liberal' on licencing laws. Remember 'cool Britannia'? With anyone who critiscised the booze society being seen as a fuddy-duddy. The medical figures tell the story of how things have turned out. I enjoy a drink and used to get drunk when I was 20-stupid, but the scale of drunkness now is literally staggering, with the drink, as you rightly say, cascading down to 10-15 year olds in part because of availability, but also because many parents can't or won't control their children. Tis sad.

[Ashly Christen]

its true, everyone drinks, and tehy start younger and younger,
i never should have touched it, they think it dosent matter, but it does,
You teach by example. - i totally agree
thats how it should be
but so many have lost sight, lost themselves, this world is just a mess, its sad.
this is a wonderfully informative and smart write
well done
♥

[Erotic Goddess]

This took me way too long to read. This was very enlightening and well written. Did you enter it in the contest? How'd it do?

[Red Raven]

Hmmmm a very useful tips. I have no idea about upbringing kids in that kinda culture. But as a conservative American Baptist ( As mom told me).Alcohol is a BIG NO. Our land is a dry land with fanatic male banning alcohol. The result- Many kids, even younger the 13/14 have starting popping pills. Pills are cheap and have no smell so there are no ways parents will disover until at the last stage.
This piecse of write up really enlightened my thoughs. Thank you once again .

[Writer Of Life]

Good information Bu. I appreciate your knowledge and your caring. My father called, directly before his death, one gallon of vodka a day...cutting back!!! He would argue your point to the end. However, I am agreeing and appreciating. I don't drink much. ADDICTION runs in the family, and scares the s**t out of me.

[Kelley Frost]

They need to fix that law and quick. Thanks for sharring the info. It makes you wonder what people are thinking? Is money that emportant? I don't think so. A childs life may be at risk!
Kelley frost

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Yeah binge drinking is a deffinate problem. Admittedly i drank alot as a tee n but never got that heavy into it. I really love you writing about such serious topics that many avoid. This is definately a well thought out and enlightening piece. Thanks for sharing.