Fiona Bruce MP highlights importance of positive parenting in preventing binge drinking
Fiona Bruce MP spoke in a debate in Parliament yesterday and highlighted the importance of positive parenting in reducing the likelihood of young people becoming binge drinkers.
Fiona’s speech was supported by the DEMOS report “Binge Drinking Behind the Headlines – Under the Influence”, the launch of which Fiona hosted recently. The DEMOS report stated that young people with parents who are actively involved in their lives are materially less likely to binge drink at 16 and also less likely to binge drink later on at age 34. In contrast, young people with disengaged parents were eight times more likely to be binge drinkers at 16.
Fiona said
“We cannot resolve every problem of excessive drinking in our country, but we should not act only at personal, community or national levels. We need to do something at all those levels, because doing nothing is not an option. The research highlights the fact that active parenting is a key aspect in reducing binge drinking. We should consider seriously the positive contribution that parenting classes or education could make, particularly in terms of prevention rather than cure.”
The photograph shows (l to r) Christine Thompson ( SABMiller Policy Manager), Fiona Bruce MP, Bryanna Hahn (University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology and co-author of “Under the Influence”) and Jamie Bartlett (co-author of “Under the Influence”) at the launch of the DEMOS report
