One in five children will drink alcohol this Christmas

Drinkaware has raised concerns about the number of children who will be given alcohol this Christmas. 20% of 10- to 14-year-olds will be given some alcohol by a parent during the festive period, and an additional 22% will be given alcohol by another member of the family or friends.

This statistic is in stark contrast to most parents’ intentions. When asked, 84% of parents said that they do not wish their children to drink at all.

The problem is that children can be very persuasive, and parents who have themselves been drinking are more likely to make the wrong decision and allow their children to have a drink.

Not all parents are concerned though. 67% of parents admit that they are not worried about their children being exposed to drinking at Christmas time.

Children grow up witnessing adults drinking alcohol in the home. Usually at Christmas people start to drink earlier in the day when children are playing or watching television. This is perceived as normal behaviour and when children become young teenagers, they wish to behave more like their adult parents. This involves having a beer or glass of wine during the Christmas holidays. In many households, alcohol is simply left lying around where children can help themselves.

Alcohol abuse among teenagers and young adults is a growing problem, and an early introduction to alcohol can lead to alcohol dependency issues that cause major health problems.

Parents are urged to drink responsibly over the Christmas period, to limit drinking during the day, to avoid getting drunk in front of the children, and to keep alcohol locked away.