Children as young as 10 who drink carry-outs with their teenage friends are leaving themselves vulnerable to serious injury or even death, says Altnagelvin A&E consultant Alan McKinney
Last year almost 50 children under the age of 15 were treated for alcohol abuse at Altnagelvin's Accident and Emergency department.
Mr McKinney said: "We had an average of almost one child a week needing treatment at Altnagelvin for harming themse
lves with alcohol.
"The youngest was just 10 years old. The question must be asked: where did the alcohol come from? And in the majority of cases the alcohol came from the child's home."
Mr McKinney said it was the first time staff at Altnagelvin had collated statistics for an entire year but, despite not having evidence in the past, they felt the problem was gradually increasing.
"I was surprised and alarmed at the figures. No child under 15 should have access to alcohol, but it's clear that alcohol is freely available to these children," he said.
Mr McKinney stressed the dangers involved with children drinking alcohol with a group of friends of similar age.
He said: "If a child of 12, 13 or 14 years old collapses or becomes unconscious in a park as a result of alcohol abuse then others present won't know what to do and may just run away in case they get caught.
"This leaves the child vulnerable and in an exposed position. The child could suffer an airway obstruction or other medical complication which could lead to serious injury or death."
In many cases, the parents of the children involved have no idea what their child has been up to.
Mr McKinney said: "Often parents come to A & E and can't believe the scenario we have described to them. There is usually a mixture of anger and concern at what the child has done."
Mr McKinney said the increase in children needing treatment is a worrying trend because children who start to drink alcohol early in life will usually continue to drink and find themselves heading in "a very downward spiral".
