AN 11-year–old boy had to be revived in hospital after drinking almost a bottle of vodka as medics in the Capital face a growing tide of under-age drinkers.
The youngster had to be admitted to the Sick Kids after drinking so much he was almost six times over the legal driving limit.
The consultant who treated the boy, who was unconscious when he arrived, said he was lucky not to suffer long-term damage.
He is just one of a rising number of children being treated for alcohol-related symptoms in the Lothians, which has seen drinking to excess increase sharply.
A total of 140 children were admitted due to alcohol in 2006-07, the most recent year available – higher by a third than previous years – while about 100 less serious cases were dealt with in accident and emergency departments and then discharged without entering the main hospital.
Dr Gregor Campbell-Hewson, A&E consultant in both the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Sick Kids hospitals, believes youngsters are drinking greater amounts.
The majority are aged 15, 16 and 17. However, some are younger – including the child brought to the Sick Kids earlier this year.
Dr Campbell-Hewson said: "We see intoxicated children sporadically at the Sick Kids. We've seen two so far this year.
"One had a blood-alcohol level between five and six times the driving limit.
"He was only 11 or 12 and had been drinking vodka with friends. He had probably had the lion's share of a 750ml bottle.
"He was deeply unconscious when he came in late at night and was so for several hours.
"The other child was slightly older and had been found staggering around outside."
Dr Campbell-Hewson said he did not believe more youngsters were drinking, but that they are drinking more heavily.
"The youngsters we see tend to be more intoxicated," he added. "Most drink themselves to a standstill and then get brought in by parents or friends."
Medics have not pumped stomachs for more than ten years. It is considered safer to monitor alcohol victims and allow them to sleep off the effects.
In some instances, a drip may be used to give them fluid to dilute the alcohol and prevent them from becoming dehydrated.
Medics will ensure they do not lie in a position likely to cause pressure sores or choking on their own vomit.
Dr Campbell-Hewson said: "If you drink yourself to a point where you are unable to look after yourself, you are vulnerable to being injured and vulnerable to people with bad intentions.
"You lose all protection and that's on top of the adverse effects to your health."
Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said he was "horrified" by the case of the boy taken to the Sick Kids.
He added: "The first question is where did he get the alcohol from – by proxy purchase, from a parent maybe? Where did they drink it – at home, on the streets, in a dangerous situation?"
"That this boy drinking a significant amount of a 750ml bottle of vodka is extremely worrying. He is a very young child and his body cannot cope with that level of alcohol. He is extremely luck to still be functioning."
Tom Roberts, head of public affairs at Children 1st, said: "This boy is lucky not to have suffered serious long-term harm.
"As well as the physical risks to health, being under the influence of alcohol leaves young people more at risk of harm.
"There is growing recognition of the need to tackle Scotland's drinking culture, and to do this we must involve children and young people in exploring why they feel the need to drink in the first place.
"We also need to take a hard look at the culture in Scotland, where drinking to excess is often seen as socially acceptable by all ages."
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www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk•
www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk•
www.children1st.org.ukThe full article contains 674 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
