Parents could face court if they allow children alcohol at home

Parents who let their children drink at home could face prosecution under government anti-binge drinking measures announced today.

It is currently illegal for families to let children under the age of five drink alcohol but ministers are planning to review this limit as part of new guidelines setting out what is responsible behaviour for parents.

Gordon Brown has also asked Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson to set new limits on how much alcohol under-18s should be drinking.

This will address parents' dilemmas such as allowing children to drink alcohol at Sunday lunch or at family celebrationsand the extent to which they should supervise their drinking.

Families will also be targeted with tough health warnings on the risks faced by children who drink early in life.

Sir Liam said today his review would bridge the gap between anecdotal evidence about the dangers of drinking and scientific evidence.

He said: "It's clear that getting drunk is a rite of passage for young people. But over the last decade it's become more than a rite of passage with young people saying they're drinking just to get drunk. This is undoubtedly linked to greater health risks."

In France and Spain it is socially acceptable for parents to introduce children to alcohol by allowing them drink at family meals.

But research shows the rise in Britain's binge-drinking epidemic is partly fuelled by children obtaining alcohol at home with or without the consent of their parents.

Ed Balls, Children, Schools and Families Secretary, said: "We need to fundamentally influence young people's behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol. This will involve talking to young people themselves but, crucially, parents tell us they want better, clearer information as they bring up their children."

Other measures in the Government's Youth Alcohol Action plan include a new law enabling police to arrest under-18s found drinking in public who have already been moved on at least once for consuming alcohol and a scheme called Challenge 21, barring pubs, off-licences and shops from selling alcohol to anyone who looks underage and cannot prove they are over 21.