DutchNews.nl - Rotterdam to teach nine-year-olds about dangers of alcohol

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Rotterdam to teach nine-year-olds about dangers of alcohol

Wednesday 05 September 2012

Rotterdam city council plans to begin experimenting with lessons about the dangers of alcohol for nine-year-olds, Nos television reports on Wednesday.

The lessons have been prompted by statistics which show one in three children have tasted alcohol by the time they reach the age of 12. Dutch teenagers are among the heaviest drinkers in Europe.

The information sessions are meant for children and their parents but the council has not yet worked out how they will be organised, Nos said.

Restricting sales

The Dutch anti-alcohol abuse group STAP said nine is ‘extremely young’ to begin providing information about alcohol abuse. In addition, restricting sales is a better way of reducing teenage drinking, a spokeswoman told the broadcaster.

However, it is a good initiative to get parents up to speed on the issues, the organisation said.

Currently, 16-year-olds are allowed to buy beer and wine in the Netherlands but there is pressure to increase this to 18. In May, new legislation came into effect which makes it a criminal offence for the under-16s to be caught with alcohol.

Earlier stories
Increase in legal drinking age has majority support
Under 16s to face charges for possessing beer

Is nine too young? Have your say using the comment box below.

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Readers' comments (4)

Restricting sale is a form of prohibitionism.
It does not work. Look at history, look at the failure of US experiment in 1920-1933. Look at the big debate over the weed pass.
The only way forward is to let people drink, but educate how (e.g. during meals to better enjoy the food, not to get drunk). Educating means also removing advertisement because this is a negative education (most advertisement create the subtle link "drink and you will have fun/sex").

By fg | September 6, 2012 7:51 AM

10 is the magic age for children to learn because they have the language and cognitive skills to understand complex subjects. Educate them about all recreational drugs: alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and tobacco. The more honest and frank the better.

By Puck | September 6, 2012 7:57 AM

Prohibition only makes alcohol more desirable. Look first at the parents. If they drink a glass of wine with a meal, then the kids are likely to do the same. If they swill a crate of beer in front of the TV after work, then the kids are likely to do the same. Perhaps the information sessions would be better targeted at the parents, to show how their behaviour may place their kids at risk. Funny and informative TV ads could perhaps change many an adult's behaviour.

By jaycee | September 6, 2012 5:39 PM

Banning children from purchasing alcohol is, in my opinion, not prohibitionism but government responsibility. Shall we say the same about giving a fourteen year old a driver's license or a gun license? Though extreme, it is the same logic, some 14 yr old children could very well handle it.

Though in the end the main influence is parents and peer pressure, authorities have to show limits via laws AND assist in education and support to families.

By D Charles | September 6, 2012 7:47 PM