NEW figures released by alcohol campaign group Drink Wise suggest that more than 12,000 Wirral children of the age 16 and under may have been harmed by someone else’s drinking.

A new campaign, launched on Monmday to mark the start of Alcohol Awareness Week, aims to highlight the need for minimum unit pricing as part of moves to protect children and young people from alcohol.

In a survey conducted by Drink Wise, one in five of the adults said they knew of a child who had been affected by the drinking of a family, friend or stranger.

Applied to Wirral, the findings of the survey could mean that, as a result of others’ drinking, as many as:

  • 1,500 children have been anxious, upset or worried
  • 1,000 children have been neglected
  • 1,000 children have missed school
  • 760 children have been mentally affected
  • 630 children have missed leisure activities
  • 380 children are in physical danger
  • 250 children have missed health appointments

Cllr Christine Jones, Wirral’s cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said: ‘Alcohol is probably cheaper and easier to get hold of than any other recreational drug, and as a result people can easily become dependent on it. Through no fault of their own, it is often innocent children who bear the brunt of alcohol-related harms.”=

“I welcome the launch of this new campaign which will encourage people to think about what more we can all do to protect young people from alchohol.”

Fiona Johnstone, Wirral’s director of public health, said: “New analysis shows that nationally, as many as 15 children a day are being admitted to hospital, some as young as 11.

“Doctors and nurses tell us they are increasingly worried about the amount of alcohol young people are drinking, not least because they are witnessing people dying from liver disease in their twenties. This campaign aims to ask the public to look again at alcohol and ask what more we can do to help to protect children.”

Alcohol Awareness advice and information will be available on the following days at the following locations:

  • Monday, November 17 & Tuesday, November 18: Wirral Metropolitan College, Conway Park Campus, (Monday), and 12 Quays Campus, (Tuesday).
     
  • Friday November 21: Asda, Birkenhead Shopping Centre.
     
  • Saturday, November 22: Before Tranmere Rovers’ game at Prenton Park, (1pm – 2.45pm).