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Tough new booze laws for parents

18 Nov, 2009 08:50 AM
AUSTRALIAN Drug Foundation leaders want to protect young revellers and support party host parents with tough new laws clamping down on adults supplying alcohol to minors.

The move comes as thousands of teenagers across the country prepare for alcohol-fuelled leavers celebrations.

ADF spokesman and father of two, John Rogerson said the Federal Government must make it illegal for adults to supply alcohol to minors without the explicit consent of the child’s parents.

The proposed law could be see parents slapped with $6000 on-the-spot fines for allowing alcohol at teenager parties.

Parents of secondary students nationwide will receive a letter from the ADF warning of a binge-drinking epidemic among adolescents and calling for tough penalties for adults supplying alcohol to under 18-year-olds.

The letter states that 96 per cent of children under 17 have tried alcohol and one in three are boozing weekly at “harmful levels’’.

Under recommendations to be put to Government leaders next month, adults would also be banned from providing an “excessive’’ amount of alcohol – considered to be anything more than two standard drinks – even with parents’ permission.

The ADF has slammed what it calls gaping holes in WA’s drinking laws, which are putting minors at risk.

Research has shown binge drinking causes irreparable damage to the growing brain, killing the area responsible for relaying messages between cells.

“As the law currently stands, in most parts of Australia, anyone could give your kid a drink or 10 and not be responsible for the consequences,” Mr Rogerson said.

“It’s hard to believe this sort of preventative policy isn’t already in place.

“It’s about prevention and awareness more than anything, especially in the lead up to Schoolies

Week, parents need to really consider whether it’s ok to be giving kids all that booze and what the impact will be.

“If this legislation was in place years ago, lives could have been saved.”

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