Emergency Visits Increase for Underage Drinkers

In the past five years, the number of children seeking treatment for over drinking in emergency departments have increased from 33 to 50 percent, a survey of 50 British hospitals revealed.

Children under the age of 18, and many of them as young as six, are brought to the hospitals legally drunk or even unconscious after binge drinking on beer or sweet-tasting "alcopops" The Observer reported.

One hospital reported that 62 percent of these children were over the standard for drunken driving and 30 percent were passed out, or close to it. Another hospital reported seeing at least 100 children per week during the summer school holiday period.

"We are certainly aware of the large numbers of young people drinking alcohol in dangerous and excessive ways," said Kathy Evans of the Children's Society. "Unfortunately this research bears out our experience, which is that we are seeing more young people getting into trouble with alcohol. Certainly we are very concerned about the culture of binge drinking and what that says about young people."

Alcopops are sweet, fruit-flavored drinks which have high levels of alcohol and are easily available in many inner-city areas, the newspaper reported.

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