Garda criticises parents who allow children to drink

Garda criticises parents who allow children to drink


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

A GARDA juvenile-liaison officer has criticised parents who allow their underage children to drink alcohol at home saying that it sends out the message to them it is alright to drink outside the home.
Underage drinking was highlighted at last week’s Castlebar Joint Policing Committee meeting, where it was revealed that alcohol was linked to half of all underage crimes.
Garda Mick Fahy, a Garda juvenile liaison officer, said he was worried by the level of underage drinking, particularly because of its association with crimes, from public order to assaults and criminal damage. He said parents should play a greater role in discouraging their children from drinking.
“It starts in the home, and the example we set for our kids. I deal with kids whose parents do not perceive it as a problem. ‘We did it when we were their age’, they say. I am talking about spirits like vodka and gin mixed in coke bottles and brought to events. It is around the 16 age mark where the problem peaks. Don’t get me wrong drugs are a problem, but there is a bigger issue with alcohol,” he said.
Cllr Noreen Heston asked Garda Fahy what he through about parents allowing 17 year olds to drink in their home. Garda Fahy said that while ‘what happens in your home is your own business’, he was against the practice.
Garda Fahy added that parents who allow their children and their friends to drink in the home are responsible for anything that may happen to them afterwards. “You cannot take on the role of parent of someone else’s child,” he stressed.
Cllr Thérèse Ruane said everyone needed to ‘sit up and listen’ to the statistic that alcohol was linked to half of crime committed by 12 to 18 year olds. Cllr Ger Deere added that alcohol was a scourge that had to be tackled, highlighting the cheap alcohol as a particular problem. Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne highlighted the issue of alcohol sponsorship in sport, saying it should be outlawed.

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