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Half of UK parents let children under 14 drink alcohol at home

Friday, 19 August 2016 6:09 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 19 August 2016 6:10 PM ]

Half of UK parents allow their children under the age of 14 to drink alcohol at home. (Photo by Telegraph.co.uk)

A survey in the United Kingdom has revealed that over half of British parents allow their children under the age of 14 to drink alcohol at home.

According to a research study conducted by Churchill home insurance, of 1,000 parents surveyed in Britain, 34 percent of them with under-14 children used alcohol as a bribe to encourage good behavior, while 11 percent of parents with children between the ages of five and seven let them drink at home.

A quarter of the parents in the survey said they saw “nothing wrong” with their children drinking alcohol.

“The relationship between children and alcohol in Britain always seems more fraught than for our continental cousins. Many parents want their children to have a responsible attitude to drinking and introduce alcohol in a safe, controlled environment,” said Martin Scott, head of Churchill home insurance.

“The challenge any parent will recognize is how to prevent excessive drinking, especially amongst teenagers ... Whenever people are drinking in the home, there is a greater risk of injury or property damage as alcohol has a significant impact on co-ordination,” he added.

This is while UK health officials have repeatedly warned parents to keep children away from alcohol until they are at least 15 years old.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), which is the most senior health institution in Britain, says those individuals who drink before the age of 14 are at increased risk of health problems, alcohol-related injuries, becoming involved in violence and attempting suicide.

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