General Chat

Maybe they are right that the law has nothing to do with her drinking at home, but it has everything to do with her driving - I hadn't realised that before i read it for myself in the Mail. But don't her stupid parents realise the danger to the childs health from drinking that much? haven't they heard of alcohol poisoning? I guess one of the problems is she is the youngest of 7 children (according to the mail) although someone said 9. Probably her older siblings thought it was funny to get ther drunk.

Maz there is no way that you have over-reacted, you did what you thought was right. If I was in your shoes, I would have done the same. I certainly wouldn't put up with it. Nicola xx

I wonder what the parents would have said IF someone else's child had done the same and injured any of their family? Would it still have nothing to do with the Law? Liz

What a lovely new name Maz!! Your son is lucky to have you. If you had not been there he could have been stopped and arrested or much, much worse. Well done. Abigail

There are so many ways to reply to this are'nt there?!! My opinion is that a child learns respect when it is given respect, ( on a daily basis). If parents dont respect their children, then how can they learn respect themselves! I remember a year or so ago, my son who will be 24 years old this year, came home from a nightclub one night and wanted the keys to his car, so that he could take a friend home, they had both been drinking heavily!! I told my son that I would take his friend home (albeit 3.am) and my son declined the offer and tried to take his car keys! I promptly locked the keys in the safe.!! My son took offence to this and started to get out of control, so I called the police and had him taken into custody for the night!! I know some people will say I over reacted, but it has taught him a lesson, and they now have their own private taxi service, when he and his friends go out. I tell them I would rather get out of bed at 3.am and taxi them home than they ever get into a situation like that again. My son was remorseful the following day, when he realised the situation, and has not acted so out of character since, thank-fully!! Maz x

Well really I can't see the problem with branding adult drink drivers on the forehead with a large capital D - obviously without anaesthetic. For that child though, I do feel some sympathy. Imagine yourself relying on parents that bad for your survival and training. Do you think this child is now irredeemably lost to the group her parents belong to? My husband and I really enjoy our alcohol. We like beers from micro breweries with different ingredients, organic ones are really delicious and we try lots of different wines. I do prefer red though. Neither of us would drive after drinking alcohol and we do allow our children grown up wine glasses with a splash of wine in with the water. I think it is mainly attitude towards drink that affects children. Mine think of it as grown up juice and don't actually drink the mixture because they don't like the taste, and because they don't see very drunk people I don't think they realise what it can do to the body. A very different situation to mine. I remember growing up with very drunk male adults around frequently. I knew it made you poorly but 30 years ago the drink driving issue was not as public as it is now. I shudder when I think what could have happened to me and my little brothers. I wonder what will happen to those parents and will it have any effect on the child? Abigail

Margaret. Yes thats very true, we had a talk with year six by a police man about drinking and drugs. and I was surprised as to what he said. although if it got out of hand then social services could be informed... Pat

I hadn't heard this item of news but, if it is the case, we're facing a situation far more serious that simply having intellectual discussions over the "fairness" of this or that! I'm generally a social liberal rather than a conservative, but drink-driving falls into a category of its own. My response would be to impose punitive sanctions as (a) a clear punishment to those concerned in this incident; (b) a warning to others who seem to regard the law and any form of social responsibility as a "larf"; and (c) a clear warning to everyone at home and abroad that we are not prepared to be treated as the legal breadbasket of the western world. Swingeing fines on the parents plus a fine and some form of banning order/ detention on the child would do fine for a start. If anyone wants to scream about it, let them go down to their local A&E dept plus undertakers to view the results of simply slapping offenders on the wrist! Last week we had an incident down here in South Molton, where a 17 year old had been given a Ford Focus for his birthday by his parents, and was showing off to a couple of his mates on the local trading estate. A friend saw him rocketing past on the wrong side of the road at a speed double that of the speed limit. Moments later he tried to drive underneath an articulated lorry on the estate, nearly decapitating himself and his passengers in the process. Result - one person in intensive care, two others seriously injured, plus a car totally written off, plus damage to the lorry. Question - was that just a "larf", and are we all social fascists if we aren't prepared to tolerate this kind of selfish stupidity on the part of both young people and their parents? Philip

It is legal to allow a child alcohol in your own home from the age of 7. Yes, its stupid. When my daughter was younger we went to one of those talks at school about drugs etc. They were held by the police and they gave us a questionaire to see how much we knew what was legal etc. This was one of the questions: "If you gave your 10 year old a gin and tonic in your own home could you be prosecuted?" The answer: No! legally after 7 years old you can allow them to drink in your own home. We were gobsmacked Margaret

I would have been to scared, not only of the police but the good hiding I wouldve got off my dad, to do anything like that at her age!!

we were all young once,but who would dare take their dads car out for a drive at 12 let alone be drunk.its todays society!as for being bored i think we have all been there but found other ways to stop boredom

Hi all I seem to remember from somewhere that it is legal for parents to give their own children alcohol in the family home. I could be totally wrong but I remember hearing that somewhere. I do agree that this is a serious situation. Maybe she should go out with the police on a Saturday night and see the results of drink driving for herself. Lynne

I dissagree, to remove the child from their care could be more damaging, you hear of it all the time. However, I agree that it has everthing to do with the law and the parent's be prosecuted. They need to realise that they have a responsibility to the child. But also, irrisponsible or not, a child will get alcohol from somewhere and maybe they thought that it would be better for her to drink it at home. However, that dosen't excuse the fact that they allowed her to get into such a state and they need to made aware of what they have done. Nicola xx

I agree with you Rupert! The father has stipulated that he has hidden the car keys from his nine children! Id be concerned about them getting their hands on the alcohol as well! In his words.."kids will be kids"!!! Great example dont you think!

What sort of family is this? Do the appropriate authorities attend these cases. This girl should be promptly removed from her present enviroment . Her parents may think she has done no wrong . Would this still be the case if she killed an innocent person ?. I guess that would be the case. For every ones peace of mind Please remove this child to a safer enviroment. Rupert Bear.

She was drinking in the family home and took the car off the drive! Unbelievable isnt it

What Parents... if shes bored find her something to do. doesn't she have school work...I'm totally lost for words.. Pat

I totally agree with you on that..it has got everything to do with the law!! Her parents have been quoted as saying " She was bored and only did it for a laugh and its not like anyone was hurt" Id like to know how a 12yr old managed to get hold of that amount of alcohol as she was with her family! Like you said they must have been aware of what she was doing

Someone may 'jump on me' for this but i think it has everything to do with the law and they should be prosecuted for allowing a 12 year old to drink, even more so they should be prosecuted for allowing a 12 year old to drink to excess. Ann Glos

aged 12yrs old was found to be double the limit!! Her parents have said that they contacted the police only to make sure she was safe and that it now has nothing to do with the law!!!! Makes you wonder really doesnt it.....