Parents should teach kids about alcohol at primary school age

Monday 13 January 2014

Children as young as 11 should be taught about the dangers of alcohol abuse, says the President of the Honorary Police Association, Hugh Raymond.

He said: "Children need educating on the harmful effects of alcohol at primary school level. I believe parents should be talking about the issue with their children at home from a much younger age and the message should be reinforced by teachers through the Education system."

Putting up prices hasn't succeeded in cutting down drinking in the UK and Mr Raymond isn't convinced it's the answer for Jersey. He said the Honoraries often encounter young people who have left the house drunk before going out for the evening.

The landlord of The Lamplighter, Sean Murphy agrees. He said: "We need education aimed at the next generation. We need to show schoolchildren graphics of how alcohol damages your liver, how it ages it and show them what heaving drinking can do."

The Alcohol and Licensing Strategy which was published by the Chief Minister's department last week considers longer pub opening hours and increasing the price of alcohol.

Statistics contained in the consultation report suggest that Jersey has a serious drink problem – adult Islanders drink some 12.8 litres of alcohol per year, a figure that is significantly higher than the European average of 11 litres.