Public health: drinking of alcohol by children and adolescents. Recommendation

The European Parliament approved the report by Mrs Catherine STIHLER (PES, UK) (by 445 votes for, 63 against and 21 abstentions) on the drinking of alcohol by children and adolescents. Overall, the Parliament welcomed the Council's proposals, with a large number of amendments to beef up the draft recommendations, including: - systematic training for school nurses and doctors so they recognise psychological problems in children and adolescents; medical practioners to be made more aware of the most effective methods for combatting alcohol abuse; - retailers of alcoholic drinks to be made to share the responsibility for protecting young people, and in particular to be responsible for observing licensing restrictions on the sale of alcohol to young people; - underage consumers not to be targeted with misleading brand names or packaging; - soft drinks not to be more expensive than beer; - television advertising rules on alcoholic drinks to be harmonised throughout Europe; - visible information and warnings about alcoholic drinks to be displayed in sales areas, particularly supermarkets. Moreover, it should be added that there is a need t opromote efforts to use the potential of sport and the competitive spirit to combat alcohol abuse which is the fashion among young people and to promote healthy lifestyles. The report also requires the appropriate authorities, responsible for safety in pools, lakes rivers and at the sea side, to include in their warning notices to swimmers the dangers of swimming after consuming alcohol.�