To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) specialist treatment and (b) follow up care is available for under-18 year olds admitted to hospital with an alcohol-related diagnosis. (129900)

Dependent on their individual circumstances, the vast majority of young people admitted to hospital are admitted following an acute episode of drunkenness. They may not have a substantial alcohol problem requiring treatment, but the hospital team treating them would assess this. Depending on their age and maturity, they may be referred to adult alcohol treatment services or to the local child and adolescent mental health services to address any counselling or mental health needs. If they are developing severe health problems as a result of their alcohol misuse, they would be assessed by the specialist hospital team best placed to treat their particular health conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to reduce alcohol abuse by under 18 year olds; and if she will make a statement. (129901)

The Government are determined to reduce the harm caused to young people by alcohol misuse and are committed to educating young people on the very real harm it can cause. We are preventing the sale of alcohol to children by strengthening enforcement of the law on retailers and working with the industry to reduce under-age sales of alcohol—while continuing to educate young people about the harms, both physical and social, of alcohol abuse. Alcohol education is now part of the national curriculum. Updated guidance makes it clear that alcohol education should be about sensible drinking and reducing harm. This includes encouraging schools to look at the influence of the media on attitudes towards alcohol.

The Government have a high profile alcohol campaign, Know Your Limits, aimed at 18 to 24-year-old binge drinkers, warning them of the harms associated with binge drinking.