Kids & alcohol: are drink producers & parents on equal terms?
Published: 17 August, 2009, 16:18
TAGS: Children, Crime, Health, Russia, Law
Curbing underage drinking is becoming a top priority for Russia. Police say family influence has more power than just punishing those who sell alcohol to minors. Is it really so? RT collects expert opinions.
“The ‘force’, or impact, that alcohol producers and parents have are not equal,” believes Alla Glinchikova from the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements.
“The former have much more opportunities to influence via mass media, using ads to lobby their anti-social interests. So, some legislative measures should be taken to restrict the freedom of producing and selling alcohol drinks in Russia,” she said.
Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF representative in Russia, echoes her sentiments, noting that tougher legislation is necessary for better control over access to alcohol by minors. He also added:
“And of course, we can’t say to teenagers ‘Don’t, don’t, don’t do that” – we have to think of giving them opportunities to actually DO something: get involved into some positive activities – whether it is sports or cultural events – get involved into the life of societies and communities.”
17.08.2009, 14:26
“There is a clearly lack of maritime co-operation in the EU”“The case of Arctic Sea is a Trojan Horse indicating the current level of European maritime safety, about which I’m personally very pessimistic,” says Timo Hellenberg, an expert in crisis management. |
17.08.2009, 18:06
1 comment
Missing ship found on African coastThe cargo vessel the “Arctic Sea”, which had been missing for almost three weeks, has been found off the west coast of Africa. |
What I see on an everyday bases at the playgrounds near the flats in Moscow is: 1. Mom pushing a stroller with baby inside with one hand and a beer in the other hand. 2. Mom sitting on a bench drinking beer after beer with friends while the kids play. 3. The beer is kept in the baby diaper bag - usually two or three bottles. This all applies to Dad also... I can look out the window right now and see three young Moms drinking beer. The kids are playing on the swings and the Moms are stacking beer cans up on the park bench... I is 13:00 and should be lunch time... Top it all off they all smoke... If you raise them around beer and such then that is all the kids know.. It was just as common in America so this is more than just a Russian problem. It is a world problem.. Kyle
I was drinking in high school, but not all the time of course! I think Russia has bigger problems, and that boozing, or drug use is used by the powers-that-be as a cover to their ineptitude. BTW how did so many oligarchs come about. Is it like China where the CP gave away state industry to their friends?