Drinkaware research has found more than half (53%) of parents who plan to provide their 16 and 17 year olds with alcohol for a week long summer holiday with friends will give them five or more bottles of spirits or wine.
The survey of 1000 British parents conducted for the alcohol awareness charity found more than a third (36%) would prefer their child to get alcohol from them rather than an unknown source, and one in five (22%) say they buy their teenager alcohol to keep track of the amount they will drink.* With large numbers of children going away with just their friends this summer, Drinkaware is encouraging parents not to give their children alcohol to drink unsupervised over the summer and to talk to their teenagers about the risks associated with drinking to excess.
Parents are happy to give alcohol to their children despite two fifths (41%) knowing that their child has had a bad drinking experience. One in five parents are aware their child has been involved in an accident (20%) or had unprotected sex (21%) when drinking and eight out of 10 (79%) know their child has been sick.*
Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware says: “Lots of 16 and 17 year olds will want to mark the end of exams by celebrating with friends on a trip away, but if parents provide them with alcohol, it could inadvertently put them at risk. Parents might think they’re doing the right thing by ensuring alcohol comes from them instead of somewhere else, but when young people drink to excess it can compromise their personal safety and increase the chances of them having unprotected sex or being involved in an accident.
“Parents have a huge influence on their children’s attitudes to alcohol, often without even realising it and two thirds of parents are not aware of the advice surrounding young people and alcohol**. To help their children stay safe, parents should avoid giving them alcohol for unsupervised holidays and talk to them about possible risks. This summer, we’d encourage parents to visit the Drinkaware website for practical advice about talking to children about alcohol.”
As well as providing advice for parents, this summer Drinkaware is tackling alcohol misuse among 16 to 17 year olds in Newquay as part of its ‘Got Your Back’ campaign. Launching in conjunction with the local Newquay Safe Partnership, spearheaded by the local council and police, the campaign aims to encourage friends to look out for each other and think about the short-term risks of excessive alcohol consumption. During the month that follows the end of their exams, thousands of 16-17 year olds are set to arrive in Newquay to holiday with their friends and Drinkaware is taking over a café on the popular Fistral Beach to create an alcohol-free venue where friends can meet, hang out and eat discounted food while having access to alcohol facts and information. Free internet and phone charging facilities will also be available.
Celebrations in Newquay last year were blighted by a series of accidents that saw the death of two students who fell from the cliffs and one who suffered a broken neck. Excessive drinking by young people also led to a series of incidents in the town involving alcohol related anti-social behaviour.
Commenting on the Newquay initiative Sorek continues, “Addressing the topic of alcohol with 16 and 17 year olds is key to making a positive difference to their attitudes about alcohol. We want to remind young people that you don’t need alcohol to celebrate and that drinking too much can be risky.”
Drinkaware
Hi
The price of alcohol is too cheap, encouraging high levels of binge drinking habits and should be adressed sooner rather than later. It is the only way forward in tackling problems caused by excessive binge drinking.
Much stiffer panalties for the parents of under aged persons found in posession of alcohol and for the licenced premises who were responsible (if sold directly to the under aged person) this is very important in society.