§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives his Department is currently supporting to reduce the level of alcohol consumption by those aged under 16 years. [57886]
§ Ms JowellThe Health Education Authority published "A Parent's Guide to Drugs and Alcohol" in June this year. It includes guidance on talking about drugs and alcohol with children of various ages and life stages from primary school age to young people over 16, It also includes basic facts about a range of illegal drugs, gases, glues, aerosols and alcohol.
The Healthy Schools Initiative, a key component of the public health strategy outlined in the Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation", was launched on 14 May this year. The Initiative aims to build on the concept of the healthy school not just to promote excellence in educational achievement but to foster emotional wellbeing and enable young people to improve their quality of life and that of the wide community.
Under the initiative, we are funding eight "Health Education Partnerships" pilot schemes. These will include the development of an informed approach to substance misuse including alcohol and smoking.
A Ministerial Group on Alcopops has been set up to tackle under-age alcohol misuse, its short and long term effects on health, and unacceptable behaviour of our young people in a co-ordinated and effective manner. The Department and other Government departments are represented on the group.