Parents Just Dont Understand
ANECDOTAL evidence gathered over the last few years has all pointed to a frightening increase in the number of children being exposed to the dangers of excessive drinking at an early age. But today's statistics obtained by the Evening News confirm that in the Lothians this has indeed grown to a dangerous level with an average of two children a week now requiring hospital treatment as a result of alcohol abuse.
It would be all too easy to lay the blame squarely on the children for their own indiscipline and misguided experimentation were it not for the truth - that the country's booze culture is largely responsible and much of the adult population are poor role models for the growing generation to follow.
Children who come from households where alcohol is abused, or taken in excess, cannot be expected to know any better. Relatively speaking, alcohol is cheap and readily available. Despite laws and the efforts of many responsible shopkeepers to uphold them it is easily passed on to minors by those of legal age.
While it may seem inappropriate to some to raise subjects like drink, drugs and sex with children of primary school age it is becoming increasingly clear that if attitudes are to be changed intervention has to made at an earlier age. If children are more willing to experiment before they even reach their teens they must be made aware of the risks they run.
No-one balks at children being taught about road safety or the dangers involved in going off with strangers. Why should they resist educating children on what are essentially health issues? Surely it is better they hear they are given guidance and advice from professionals rather than from their peers.
At the same time, curbs must continue to be placed on those who glamorise drinking or seek to encourage younger audiences to drink. Only by sending out a clear message that drinking to excess is publicly unacceptable can attitudes be altered.
It will be interesting to see in future years whether the smoking ban drastically reduces the take-up rate among youngsters.
It would be all too easy to lay the blame squarely on the children for their own indiscipline and misguided experimentation were it not for the truth - that the country's booze culture is largely responsible and much of the adult population are poor role models for the growing generation to follow.
Children who come from households where alcohol is abused, or taken in excess, cannot be expected to know any better. Relatively speaking, alcohol is cheap and readily available. Despite laws and the efforts of many responsible shopkeepers to uphold them it is easily passed on to minors by those of legal age.
While it may seem inappropriate to some to raise subjects like drink, drugs and sex with children of primary school age it is becoming increasingly clear that if attitudes are to be changed intervention has to made at an earlier age. If children are more willing to experiment before they even reach their teens they must be made aware of the risks they run.
No-one balks at children being taught about road safety or the dangers involved in going off with strangers. Why should they resist educating children on what are essentially health issues? Surely it is better they hear they are given guidance and advice from professionals rather than from their peers.
At the same time, curbs must continue to be placed on those who glamorise drinking or seek to encourage younger audiences to drink. Only by sending out a clear message that drinking to excess is publicly unacceptable can attitudes be altered.
It will be interesting to see in future years whether the smoking ban drastically reduces the take-up rate among youngsters.
posted by Bludlust at 9:15 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home