ALCOHOL AND THE YOUNG

Drinking alcohol is an accepted and pleasurable part of social life. M ost adults have at least an occasional drink with friends and, apart f rom those who may abstain for religious and other reasons, many would expect alcohol to be provided at a family celebration or a party. Yet, as is well known, alcohol in excess can kill. As has already been hig hlighted by four major reports [1-4] it can affect an individual even before birth, and is responsible for significant ill health and unhapp iness, destroying careers and wrecking family life. Heavy alcohol cons umption sometimes begins in adolescence. it is therefore important bot h to educate young people about alcohol so that they can take informed decisions and to protect young children from its harmful effects.