21 Lothian pupils suspended for being drunk at school

Published on Saturday 22 November 2008 10:23

TWENTY-ONE pupils in Lothian have been suspended after being found drunk in school.

Today one MSP said the "shocking" figures showed the depth of society's problem with alcohol.

Latest figures show six youngsters were temporarily excluded from Edinburgh schools in 2006-07 for alcohol misuse, with another ten in West Lothian.

The figure suggests the problem, which had been showing signs of improvement, is getting worse again – the total temporary exclusions from Lothian schools had gone down from 28 in 2003-04 to 15 the following year, and just four the year after that, before leaping to the latest total of 21.

Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown said: "I am absolutely shocked by these figures.

"For a while it had looked as though the problem of alcohol misuse in the city's schools was being tackled, but unfortunately we have now seen a sharp rise in the number of pupils being excluded as a result of alcohol misuse."

The figures were released in a parliamentary answer to Mr Brown from Schools Minister Maureen Watt.

Edinburgh's education convener Marilyne MacLaren said: "Education on substance misuse is currently ongoing in our schools.

Our policy for dealing with drug related incidents in schools is also currently being updated."

A West Lothian Council spokesman added that the council had a "clear and robust" policy on substance misuse in schools.

"Our priority is to ensure that young people have effective drugs and alcohol education.

"Individual incidents are managed by headteachers. Sanctions may include exclusion in more serious cases. The number and seriousness of such incidents varies from year to year."

A Scottish Government pokeswoman said the school curriculum aimed to ensure that all young people were made aware of the implications of using and abusing alcohol.

She added: "Many of the cheapest alcohol products are sold at 'pocket money prices' which attract young people looking to buy the highest quantity for the lowest cost. This is why the Scottish Government has put forward a series of bold and innovative approaches aimed at tackling alcohol misuse across society, including among young people."