Change in plan to beat alcohol
By JEREMY CALVERT
25aug03
THE State Government has rolled out another shock advertising campaign to tackle teenage alcohol abuse.
But in a new approach to an old problem, Minister of Health Bronwyn Pike all but gave the green light to under-age boozing, only singling out serious binge drinking for criticism.
Launching the $1.4 million campaign, Ms Pike said she accepted drinking was increasingly a part of young teenagers' lives.
"For 14 to 15-year-olds, and maybe some even younger, drinking is becoming part of their life and it is something they do with their friends," she said.
"We know they are having a good time, but when it starts to affect their health then it is a real problem for the whole community," she said.
"You can have some fun but if you go overboard it gets a bit pathetic."
Ms Pike said the 30 per cent of young teenagers drinking to excess were the target of the new campaign.
"I don't think we are condoning under-age drinking, but we are understanding young people will drink, so let's minimise the harm," she said yesterday. (BT: my emphasis added)
But Ms Pike's relaxed attitude to a teenage tipple has not been mirrored by alcohol specialists.
Carol Bennett, executive officer of the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, said the tacit acceptance of moderate drinking was sending the wrong message.
"Drinking at that age is too young to be drinking absolutely, and it's illegal" she said.
"A lot of people at that age simply don't know how to handle alcohol, even drinking a small amount can be a problem for a young person who hasn't yet learned how to deal with alcohol."
The advertising campaign, which will run in newspapers, on television and the Internet, focuses on peer approval rather than the health dangers of excessive drinking.
The campaign's tag line is, "Is getting pissed getting pathetic? Just ask your friends".
The television ads feature drunken young people making a nuisance of themselves at parties by knocking over drinks and bumping into people.
Ms Bennett said the Government was right to be tackling binge drinking, but had erred by ignoring the broader social issue.
"I don't think we as a society should just be accepting alcohol is OK for young people," Ms Bennett said.
From:
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7052975%5E2862,00.html
