HANGOVER ADVICE FOR 12 YEAR OLDS

PUPILS who arrive at school with hangovers are to be offered counselling.
The initiative comes as a growing number of teachers report children as
young as 12 with obvious signs of alcohol excess.

West Lothian council is working with the region's drug and alcohol project
on a UKP20,000 scheme that will provide counselling and advice to children
involved in drinking or substance misuse. Teachers will receive training in
how to talk to pupils about the dangers of drink, drugs and cigarettes.
Pupils who persist will be referred to the authority's drugs and alcohol
unit.

A teacher at Deans Community High School, in Livingston, said: "I've seen
children as young as 12 arrive late on a Monday hungover and unable to learn
anything."

Frankie Claridge, director of the Tayside Council on Alcohol, said: "Ever
since alcohol became available on a Sunday we have seen greater problems
with kids going to school still suffering the effects of a weekend of
booze."