DiagnosticsRCP President Reponds To New ONS Figures Suggesting That School Pupils Are More Likely To Drink Alcohol If They Live With Other Drinkers, UK
Responding to data in Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England, 2008 that suggests the likelihood of a pupil drinking alcohol increases with the number of drinkers per household, Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians said:
"These figures show very clearly that we need to tackle teenage drinking from every possible angle. While it"s absolutely right to focus on issues of price, and illegal sales it is equally vital that parents, teachers and other role models acknowledge that their own behaviour shapes children"s attitudes towards alcohol. In a sense this cuts to the heart of what we mean when we talk about our drinking culture. If we are to encourage healthier attitudes among the young, adults need to think more carefully about the examples we set for our children."
Notes
1. As well as being President of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Ian Gilmore is also Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK.
Royal College of Physicians