One child in five drinks 'heavily'

Almost one in five school children drinks the equivalent of a bottle and a half of wine each week, a Government health report has revealed. In some areas, one 12-year-old in eight is drinking this heavily.

The report, which shows that the problem is particularly acute in the North-east, will increase pressure on the Government to tackle the issue.

Experts say that the children are likely to have difficult home lives and that more work needs to be done with schools to help them. Chief Constable Peter Fahy of Cheshire police last week called for the legal age for drinking to be increased to 21, and for parents to take more responsibility for their children's drinking habits.