LONDON (AP) - Hospital authorities say they have treated a 3-year-old child for alcoholism.
The Heart of England NHS Trust that runs three hospitals in central England confirmed Tuesday a child had been treated by medical staff after being given alcohol regularly. The Trust revealed the data in response to a request made under the freedom of information act by a newspaper, which requested data on underage drinking.
The case highlights a new low in Britain's struggle to control a binge-drinking culture which has seen alcohol-related deaths double in the past two decades.
Chris Sorek of the lobby group, Drinkaware, says Tuesday any alcohol could disrupt a child’s development.
(COPYRIGHT 2011 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
