Drive to stop children drinking

6:06pm Tuesday 2nd December 2008

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A NEW campaign is being launched warning young people of the dangers of drinking too much alcohol over Christmas.

The initiative is designed to help youngsters stay safe over the festive season.

The campaign will be publicised in newspapers, magazines and feature in radio adverts.

It comes after a survey by Essex County Council revealed 34 per cent of children have been given alcohol by their parents, and 27 per cent get it from friends or relatives.

Tracey Chapman, Tory councillor responsible for public safety, said: “We all know alcohol is easily accessible for young people.

“We should all be concerned that, for some of them, getting drunk is becoming part of growing up. We need to give them information about how to stay safe, how to protect themselves from having their drinks spiked and how to make sure they are not placing themselves in vulnerable situations.

“We also need to give them advice about how alcohol can lower their defences and how they can protect themselves from sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy.”