Now that Jack Straw has become Home Secretary will he have the bottle to ban alcopops or will he suck up to the drinking and smoking industries as his predecessors did?
Under age drinking is nothing new, but previously the taste of alchohol in adult drinks was a natural deterrent to many young people.
However the rapid rise in the production of childrens drinks containing fruit juices and sugars laced with alcohol is alarming because they taste little different from soft drinks.
Sadly this targetting of young people by drinks companies has increased the chances of young people consuming more alcohol than is good for them and they risk damaging themselves and others.
If Mr Straw doesn't do something quickly to ban alcopops we may have an epidemic on our hands as large and as serious as the drugs and smoking epidemics.
These activities threaten the health of many young people and have been in the news again recently.
Andrew Ross
Goodshaw Close
Blackburn
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