Sir Liam.

'Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has today warned parents that giving children a small amount of alcohol in order to encourage responsible drinking does not work - and can do more harm than good. Criticising parents' "laissez-faire" attitude, he said that giving alcohol to children could lead to binge drinking and alcohol problems in adulthood.'

I am deeply suspicious of this gentleman and his motives. It is odd how frequently his advice mirrors politically correct thinking in the government to whom he owes his position.
On this occasion, may I offer anecdotal evidence as to why he is wrong - again?
I was brought up by a mother who didn't touch alcohol from one month to the next and a father who was teetotal.
As a teenager I became fascinated by alcohol; obsessed, even. I suspect that making 'a big deal' of it is responsible for this fascination in many!
Obviously, Sir Liam is also one of the 'shunt up the price of alcohol brigade'.
Why is he not looking at the vast rise in alcohol-related hospital admissions since Labour came to power for which there is a direct link to 'laissez-faire' licensing? Well?
Why is he not pointing out that police and courts do not severely tackle underage drinking on the streets - because they are prevented from doing so from on high?
Yet again, the liberal-left want control; want the 'nanny state; want to wrest control from parents; want to punish everybody to get at the truly guilty - with hidden agendas on the way.
Honestly. Teaching children to drink responsibly from within the home is wrong?
Insane thinking designed to shift the finger of blame pointing at Brown and co for their disastrous policies. (To be fair - the tories were little better.)

LINKS: http://www.thatsfit.co.uk/2009/12/17/giving-children-diluted-wine-a-middle-class-obsession/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1236774/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-Pouring-teenage-daughter-spritzer-wont-make-wino.html