'No alcohol for under-15s' says government

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Do you ever let your teen drink beer or wine? Well, watch out - now parents are officially being told how much their kids should drink for the first time.

What's the story?

England's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, says that children under 15 should never be given alcohol, not even in small quantities and that childhood should be 'an alcohol-free time'.

Why is this happening now?

Government figures show that drinking in children is on the rise. By the age of 13, just over 20% say they have been drunk at least twice. This increases to almost half of all 15-year-olds.

'We have a third of a million 11-15 year-olds drinking alcohol on a typical weekend,' said Sir Liam Donaldson. 'That's a massive number and we've got to do something about it.'

Is there a genuine health impact?

Ministers and doctors are worried about the increase in alcohol-related disease in the young. Figures published in 2007 showed a 40% increase in the number of under-18s in alcohol treatment programmes, with the highest rises among 12-14 year-olds.

And experts say that many young people don't realise that their drinking could lead to cirrhosis of the liver and other health problems in the future.

'Deaths from cirrhosis are rising in younger age groups,' warns Professor Roger Williams from University College London. 'People in their 20s and 30s are now being treated for liver failure.'

And Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians said: 'We mustn't lose sight of the fact that alcohol is the biggest cause of death in young men aged 16-24.'

Surely the odd drink isn't bad, is it?

It is for under-15s, say the new guidelines, but the government is now advising that it's fine for older teens to drink at home, providing parents keep an eye on it.

Minister Ed Balls said that when he was 16, he was allowed 'a small glass of wine at lunch on a Sunday, or a shandy or Babycham at Christmas,' which he believes is acceptable.

But some groups have attacked the advice, saying that it's just another example of Britain becoming a nanny state, and that giving a child an occasional drink helps to demystify alcohol.

'Teenagers shouldn't be drinking, but in the real world it happens and they're going to get it elsewhere,' said Damion Queva from Fathers' Quarterly magazine. 'Parents can take control by taking the mystique out of it by giving them a taste and educating their children about alcohol and abuse of alcohol.'

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