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Parents could face court for letting children try alcohol James Slack Parents could be taken to court for letting their child try alcohol at home under proposals being considered by ministers. Currently children as young as five can drink at home with parental supervision but a Government review is looking at raising that limit. The Youth Alcohol Action Plan, which aims to curb binge-drinking among teenagers, could also lead to a 9pm watershed for alcohol advertising. No new age limit has been agreed but Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: 'I have got an eight-year-old and would not consider giving a child that age any alcohol.' Ministers have already outlined a plan for official guidance for parents on how much alcohol their children should be permitted to consume at different ages. But if the law is changed parents face the prospect of a fine for giving their child a wine or a beer. Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson will carry out the review, which will consider what age is suitable for children to start drinking, how much they can safely drink and to what level the drinking should be supervised. Sir Liam said: 'The law at the moment says that you mustn't give alcohol to your child under five.
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