Give the young a sporting chance over drink

RECENTLY, there was a report on parenting and its effect on children’s drinking habits, published by Demos.

They studied data based on about 15,000 children born in the UK in the last 40 years. The researchers at Demos found that the best approach was for parents to be warm and affectionate until the age of 10 and then combine this with more discipline.

Then at ages 15 to 16 there should be more supervision. And it goes on to say activities for at-risk children are also important during school holidays when there can be more opportunities to engage in binge drinking.

I am sure any good parent could have come up with that advice, but how do parents keep children active in school holidays? Perhaps the Westminster Parliament could follow the example of the Welsh Assembly and fund free swimming during holidays.

From: Richard Laming, media director, British Soft Drinks Association, Stukeley Street, London.

THE criticisms by the Children’s Food Campaign of the marketing of soft drinks are unfair and mistaken (Call for ban on ads for sugary drinks, Yorkshire Post, August 29).

They are based on a partial and incomplete understanding of the facts.

It is important that children drink enough fluid to stay properly hydrated, particularly in hot weather or after exercise.

Children are more likely to drink enough if they like the taste of the drinks they are offered.

The label of each drink carries the ingredients list, including the juice content, and nutritional information.

The GDA scheme ensures that the most important nutritional information is visible at a glance on the front of the packs of soft drinks.