Education plea to cut drinking

Education is the key to controlling youth alcohol problems, according to Rockingham Kwinana Local Drug Action Group chairwoman Lorraine Dunkling.

Mrs Dunkling’s opinion supported a recommendation in the review of the Liquor Control Act last year for WA Police to use alcohol intervention programs instead of infringement notices for minor juvenile alcohol offences.

She said teenagers did not care about being issued infringement notices by police.

“They just laugh at it as if it is a right of passage,” Mrs Dunkling said.

She admitted offending children were in the minority, but said those who had access to alcohol were being supplied by parents.

“In this area, single-parent families are a contributing factor, but family communication is the ticket to everything,” Mrs Dunkling said.

Mrs Dunkling said some parents have asked for a blanket law prohibiting the supply of alcohol to minors, even by parents.

“Parents complain that their kids nag because their friends are allowed alcohol, which creates a feud, and they’ve asked for a law to nip it in the bud,” she said. “They admitted when they were worn out, it was just easier to cave in instead of fight.”

Mrs Dunkling hoped the intervention program would require parents and children to attend.

“If a child has an accident or gets into drugs, it affects the whole family — the program won’t work if parents aren’t involved,” she said.

Local Drug Action Group patron and Curtin professor Mike Daube said: “We have always held the view that local and community activities are part of a comprehensive approach and need to be supported by action at the national and State levels.”

Minister for Racing and Gaming Terry Waldron’s spokeswoman said he was still considering the review and its recommendations.