Guidance from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) advises parents and children that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. If children drink alcohol, it should not be until they are at least 15 years old.
It’s illegal to:
- give alcohol to children under five
- buy alcohol on behalf of anyone under the age of 18
Government guidance
The CMO provides impartial health advice to the government and the public, and has provided the following guidance to help parents making decisions about their children and alcohol.
- An alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option.
- If children do drink alcohol, they should not do so until they’re at least 15 years old.
- Drinking alcohol can damage a child's health, even if they’re 15 or older.
- If 15 to 17 year olds drink alcohol, it should be rarely, and never more than once a week. They should always be supervised by a parent or carer.
- If 15 to 17 year olds drink alcohol, they should never exceed the recommended adult daily limits (3-4 units of alcohol for men and 2-3 units for women). One unit of alcohol is about half a pint of beer or ordinary lager or a single measure of spirits (25ml).
- If your child intends to drink alcohol, using positive practices such as incentives, setting limits, agreeing on specific boundaries and offering advice can help.
What you can do
Talk to your child about the dangers of alcohol before they start drinking. Our Health A-Z section has information about alcohol misuse. See also the drinking and alcohol section.
Almost half of young people who drink alcohol say they got it from their parents, either with or without permission. If your child is under 18 and drinking alcohol in your home or getting alcohol from your home, you’re responsible for making sure they’re safe.
If your child is drinking
If your child is drinking alcohol, or intends to, you should talk to them about it.
- Make it clear that you disapprove. Research suggests that children are less likely to drink alcohol when their parents show that they don’t agree with it.
- Don't shout at your child. This will make them defensive and could make the situation worse. Instead, stay calm and firm.
- Make it clear that you’re there for them if they need you, and answer any questions they have.
- Talk to your child about how alcohol affects judgement. Drinking too much could lead them to doing something they regret, such as having unprotected sex, getting into fights or drink driving.
- Warn your child about the dangers of drink spiking and how to avoid it.
- If your child does want to drink alcohol, advise them to eat something first, not drink too much and have a soft drink between alcoholic drinks.
- Make sure your child has a plan for getting home safely and tells you where they’re going. If they’re planning to drink, make sure they're with friends who can look after them.
Further information:
