Be top role model for your kids

THE drug most Irish people use and abuse is alcohol and while it is associated with celebrations and happy occasions it is also a plague on society.

It is worrying a new survey has found almost one in six parents believe it is acceptable for their children under 15 to drink at home.

And it is not at all surprising this study found the figure surges to 50% when it comes to under-18s.

The health service spends billions of euro every year treating the after-effects of alcoholrelated death and injury.

For far too long alcohol has been a scourge on our sociey and impacted negatively on almost every family in the country.

Every weekend boozed-up revellers clog up A&E with unecessary visits to this country’s hospitals on a Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Studies have shown underage drinking poses a big threat and can lead to accidents, injuries, anti-social behaviour, poor school performance and in some cases self-harm.

The later we can introduce our kids to booze so they are responsible enough and mature enough to handle it the better.

Children model a great deal of their behaviour on the actions of their mums and dads and parents also have an important role to play during the festive season in setting a good example.