Current status: Answered by Mary Mulligan on 19 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the incidence of (a) under-age drinking, (b) drinking by young adults and (c) drinking by children and what resources it has allocated for this purpose.
Reducing harmful drinking by children and young people is one of the key priorities of the Plan for Action on alcohol problems, published on 18 January 2002. The plan sets out a range of action in relation to school and community-based education. There is also action to ensure children affected by alcohol problems have access to appropriate services and new resources for parents to help them to discuss alcohol issues with their children. We are also continuing to provide support to Health Education Board for Scotland and Alcohol Focus Scotland to provide information and advice on the dangers of under-age and excessive drinking and undertake preventative activities with schools and youth and community groups.The Executive has made £3.3 million available through central budgets in this financial year to support local and national action to tackle alcohol problems. A breakdown of funding to tackle harmful drinking by children and young people is not available.