Middle classes ‘leading children to alcohol abuse’
Under-16s twice as likely to drink as poor
‘It seems ingrained in our psyche’
MIDDLE- CLASS children are almost twice as likely to drink as those from poorer backgrounds, a major study has found.
Wealthy children are also more likely to take drugs, according to an NHS survey released yesterday.
Experts called the figures a ‘ disturbing reflection of lax middle-class parenting’ and urged those with children to adopt a zero- tolerance approach to underage drinking.
They suggested affluent parents were more likely to offer children a glass of wine with meals, without realising this puts their health at risk – and may lead to binge drinking.
The study revealed that those who drink, smoke or take drugs were more likely to be anxious and unhappy.
The NHS Digital survey questioned 13,664 year 7 to 11 pupils – mostly aged 11 to 15 – from 193 English schools between last September and February this year. Some 13 per cent of children from affluent families said they had drunk alcohol in the past week, and 37 per cent had in the last year. This compared to figures of seven per cent and 27 per cent for those from poorer families.
Parents are the main source of alcohol for underage drinkers – providing 71 per cent of their drinks. And twothirds of the youngsters said they drank at home, while just 40 per cent said they were likely to drink at parties with friends.
The UK’s chief medical officer advises that an alcohol-free childhood is best, with no alcohol consumed before the age of 15.
Andrew Misell, from charity Alcohol Change UK, warned that some middleclass parents try to copy their European counterparts by offering children alcohol at an early age – mistakenly believing this will teach them to drink responsibly.
He said: ‘In reality, the amounts of alcohol given to children in the wine-drinking countries of Europe are very small; and children’s introduction to wine occurs as part of an overall moderate drinking culture.’
He added: ‘The situation in the UK is very different, and there is a real risk that by introducing children to alcohol we are simply assisting them to join in with British drinking culture rather than some continental ideal.’
Sue Taylor from Balance, an organisation that works with local councils to reduce alcohol consumption, said: ‘ It seems ingrained in our psyche that the French mode of drinking is the way forward, where you give children a glass of wine with a meal.
‘But in fact this can be a trigger for drinking to excess, and increases their chances of taking drugs or binge drinking or unprotected sex.’
Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Policy at the British Liver Trust, urged parents to adopt a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy. She said: ‘The earlier the age at which children drink, and the more they drink, the greater the chance of developing serious liver disease in adult life.’
The report also revealed that one in four pupils from well-off families have tried drugs, compared to one in five from poorer backgrounds. Ten per cent of affluent pupils said they had taken drugs in the previous month, compared to seven per cent for those with low family affluence scores.
Experts said part of the problem is that wealthy pupils have the money for drugs.
Drugs policy expert Kathy Gyngell, co-editor of the Conservative Woman website, said: ‘ These figures are a deeply disturbing reflection of lax middle- class parenting and a lack of awareness of the real dangers of what their children are doing.’ An investigation by Tatler magazine earlier this month revealed that drug use is rife among teenagers at private schools – and many are starting aged just 12.
Yesterday’s report also revealed that more than half of young people who had recently drunk alcohol, smoked cigarettes and taken drugs were unhappy.
This compared to 36 per cent who had done one of these things and 22 per cent who had not done any.
A spokesman for the Alcohol Information Partnership, which represents drinks companies, said adults should ‘ demonstrate a sensible approach to drinking’ to youngsters.
THAT the number of children shunning cigarettes has hit a record high is very positive news. Only one in six under-16s have tried them – down from half in 1996.
A crackdown on selling tobacco, plus a growing awareness of smoking’s serious health hazards, are persuading youngsters to stub out the harmful habit.
Yet a cloud persists. While eschewing cigarettes, children are increasingly tolerant of cannabis, the insidious drug linked to psychosis and violent behaviour.
And why shouldn’t they be? The muddleheaded message from too many MPs, police chiefs – and, shockingly, even parents – is that it’s an inoffensive ‘natural’ substance.
But by normalising this devastating narcotic, they risk sending our children’s futures up in smoke. WE know breathing in dirty air contributes to thousands of deaths every year. Now we learn that living in a polluted area doubles the risk of the most common form of blindness. Part of the problem is diesel cars. Labour encouraged motorists to switch, claiming they were cleaner. In fact, they were toxic. Isn’t this a salutary lesson for the vociferous green lobby? Beware the unintended consequences of rushing for a better tomorrow – it sometimes does more harm than good.