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Drinkaware warns parents to avoid giving their children alcohol over the summer

30 Jun 2010

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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.”

Parents looking for advice about young people and alcohol can visit the dedicated ‘parents’ section of the Drinkaware website at www.drinkaware.co.uk/parents

[Ends]

For further information, including interviews with spokespeople, please contact:

Laura Bryce at Frank PR – 020 7693 6999, drinkaware@frankpr.it

Laura Ellis or Becky Medhurst at Drinkaware – 020 7766 9910, mediateam@drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

*Research taken from a One Poll survey on behalf of Drinkaware. Total sample size was 1,000 parents of 16-17 year olds in the UK. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21.05 and 27.05, 2010.  The survey was carried out online

** Alongside the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance, Drinkaware advises that ideally all under-18s should enjoy an alcohol free childhood. However, if a child is 15 -17 years old and does decide to drink, they should do so no more than once a week, under adult supervision and no more than the daily recommended unit guidelines for men and women.

Drinkaware advice for parents includes:

• Be a positive role model. Adults should drink within the daily recommended guidelines (3-4 units a day for men, 2-3 units for women).

• Introduce the topic early - the average age for young people to have their first alcoholic drink is 13. 

• Don’t make alcohol a taboo subject - ensure your child can talk freely with you about alcohol. If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, soap operas or news stories can provide a useful trigger.

• If your child does get drunk try not to overreact - talk to them about it the next morning: listen to what they have to say and try to understand their situation.

About Drinkaware:
Drinkaware provides consumers with information to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles. Our public education programmes, grants, expert information, and resources help create awareness and effect positive change. An independent charity established in 2007, Drinkaware works alongside the medical profession, the alcohol industry and government to achieve its goals.  For further information visit www.drinkaware.co.uk 

Drinkaware has also developed a section of its site to provide advice and information for parents. www.drinkaware.co.uk/parents, offers tips for how parents can broach the issue of alcohol with young people, when it’s a good time to talk to your kids and safety measures that can be put in place if your child is drinking. 

About the ‘Got Your Back’ Campaign:

Launching in conjunction with the Newquay Safe initiative, spearheaded by the local council,
Drinkaware’s ‘Got Your Back’ campaign aims to encourage friends to look out for each other, think about the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and provide advice to keep teens safe.  The ‘Got Your Back’ Café at Fistral Blu will be open to those with ‘Exodus’ wristbands on 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 19th and 23rd July.

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