Alcohol epidemic amongst children in Wales

2.36.18pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 9th Jul 2008

Alcohol has significant effects on the health of young people

On the day the Welsh Liberal Democrats debate the failure of the One Wales Government to protect the most vulnerable in society, three Welsh Lib Dem AMs will today call on the Assembly Government to control the rising alcohol epidemic amongst children and young people in Wales.

Shocking figures uncovered by the Welsh Liberal Democrats show that in 2006/2007, 371 children under the age of 16 were admitted to hospital with problems caused by alcohol, with 114 of these cases involved children under 14. In addition, statistics show that a third of people tested positive for drink driving are under 25.

Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Social Justice said:

"One child a day admitted to hospital for dinking is a shocking statistic but we must ask ourselves why is this happening to our children.

"One of the biggest complaints of young people is that they have nowhere to go at night. This can also cause problems for local residents as a minority will compensate for this by socialising on street corners or by a local shop and get drunk.

"It is no good demonising young people and moving them on constantly if we are not prepared to invest in places for then to go. It is for that reason that I recently introduced private members' legislation to put a duty on local Councils to provide youth facilities. Unfortunately, the Assembly Government the voted down my idea."

Jenny Randerson, party Health spokesperson said:

"The figures on children admitted to hospital for alcohol related issues are deeply worrying. They show that at least once a day, a child in Wales gets so drunk that they have to be admitted to hospital. This level of drinking is not only damaging to their short term health, but also to their long term health.

"The long-term health problems linked to excessive alcohol use include cirrhosis and cancer of the liver, serious vitamin deficiencies and memory loss. The problems here will be exacerbated by youth because children's bodies are not fully developed. The social impact of excessive drinking amongst children is also important. It's evident that this can have a detrimental effect on their education - leading to lower attainment, lower aspiration and ultimately wasted potential. It is not only the health effects that make childhood alcohol abuse a problem - it is a social problem as well.

"We need to get the message out that getting drunk, means a hangover that could last the rest of your life.

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Lib Dem spokesperson for Children and Young People said:

"The best way to deal with this 'epidemic' is by providing better education to our children.

"We should be explaining in their PSE lessons that alcohol is a chemical, it is an intoxicant and it is a depressant. We should also be explaining it has both short- and long-term health implications and we have to do this in a fair-handed manner.

"My experience, as a former teacher of underachieving children, is that we shouldn't give misleading or scaremongering information to children about alcohol as this will discredit any information we give them. I know from my own experience that treating children with respect has a much better impact."

Ends

Notes:

Young drink drivers

A total of 19,554 drivers were stopped during December and the start of January, with 587 failing breath tests. One in three was aged under 25. The highest level of drink-driving was in the Gwent Police area, where 4.7% of drivers tested positive, while the lowest was in north Wales, at 2.1%.

Source : Welsh police forces

Children admitted to hospital

The figures supplied by the NHS show that 114 under 14s and 371 under 16s were admitted to hospital in 2006/2007 with admission codes linked to alcohol including: Toxic effect of alcohol, alcohol use, accidental alcohol poisoning and mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol. (under 14s included in under 16 figures)

Source: NHS

The debate:

NDM3987 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of educating young people about the devastating health and social implications of alcohol abuse.

2. Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to work with the UK Government in reducing drink-related accidents on Welsh roads.

The following amendment has been tabled:

Amendment - Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

Insert as new point 1 and renumber accordingly:

"1. Notes with concern that, in the last year for which figures are available, 371 children in Wales under the age of 16 were admitted to hospital with problems caused by alcohol."