LOST GENERATION TO ALCOHOL
A generation of young people have been “lost” to alcohol, says a UK alcohol awareness organisation, which is calling on the Government to introduce quality education into schools and colleges.
More education about the risk of excessive drinking is essential to bring about a culture shift in young people,” said Jenny Wynn, director of The TTC Group, the UKs leading provider of education for convicted drink drivers.
“I do believe we have lost a generation of young people to alcohol because there hasn’t been enough quality education.”
She criticised the “irresponsible” attitude of some clubs, pubs and retailers for giving out “the wrong message” to young people with promotion campaigns often on large advertising hoardings offering entrance to night clubs and “as much as you can drink” using wristband schemes from as little as £12 or less.
Mrs Wynn, whose organisation also educates the corporate sector, spoke out in the wake of reports that 20 young people a day are being admitted to hospital with conditions such as alcohol poisoning and behavioural disorders as a result of excessive drinking.
“The alcohol issue needs to be addressed. Why is there nothing else for young people to do? Is the youth service of today failing our youngsters? They should be finding more innovative ways of engaging young people today.”
Underage selling is a problem although councils including Telford & Wrekin send in trading standards to carry out test purchase operations, she said.
Some large drinks organisations working with community safety partnerships run “Best Bar None” schemes to promote staff training which helps to ensure young people are encouraged to drink sensibly, said Mrs Wynn.
“Although some Government money is provided to deal with illicit drugs most councils struggle to find mainstream funding to tackle alcohol problems through education.
Alcohol is the largest drug problem facing the UK today.”
“Locally we are struggling to fund an inexpensive but effective alcohol education programme for secondary schools.”
Mrs Wynn spoke out in the wake of comments from Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, about the severe health problems suffered by young people as a direct result of binge drinking.
Adding that the price of alcohol should be increased to deter youngsters from drinking excessively, Professor Ian Gilmore, said: “I think the fact that we’re seeing things getting worse, rather than better, two years after a harm reduction strategy, means we need to revisit this very urgently.”
Mrs Wynn also called on the Government to act after the publication of its Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy report outlined the issues almost three years ago which emphasised the need for retailers to act professionally and not to run cheap drinks campaigns.
“Because the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy has no teeth, many retailers are totally ignoring it.”
The TTC Group (Telford Training Consultants), of Hadley Park, Telford, Shropshire, run 30 per cent of the UK’s education courses for convicted drink drivers which have been acclaimed for reducing re-offending rates. They also run corporate driving, speed awareness courses and the National Driver Improvement Course in Kent as part of their aim to reduce the death and injury toll on UK roads.
For more information about corporate driving courses contact the TTC Group on (01952) 292246 or visit www.ttc-uk.com
