The Northern Ireland Drinks Industry Group (NIDIG) has now distributed more than 50,000 copies of its advice leaflet aimed at helping Parents and Teachers discuss sensible drinking with children. The leaflet, which has recently been updated, was put together by NIDIG with advice from the Health Promotion Agency, PSNI and various other professionals working in education and prevention.

The leaflet is entitled "Alcohol & Young People", and is a factual guide about alcohol. It addresses some common situations that a parent or teacher may face when a young person first begins to take an interest in alcohol. It clarifies the law relating to alcohol and young people and it puts to rest some popular myths concerning antidotes to intoxication. Finally, the NDIG leaflet takes on that thorny subject of 'Units' and explains in simple terms how to calculate how many units there are in a variety of alcoholic drinks.

UK and Irish teenagers are some of the heaviest young drinkers in Europe and a recent survey of local District Policing Partnerships has identified underage drinking as the most serious type of problem drinking in NOrthern Ireland. The Industry acknowledges that a small but nevertheless significant minority of under 18s are drinking at levels likely to be associated with harm and that the drinking, with its associated problems, often occurs in public places. The industry is very concerned at this particular abuse of alcohol and wishes to play its part in tackling this problem.

Please note the leaflets will soon be available in school, should you wish to avail of one.