Ed Balls worries quite a lot about the shortcomings of British parents. Today, he says the state should give clearer instructions on drinking – because he has detected confused British parents crying out for instructions from our political class. “Guide us, O leaders,” they say.
Here are Balls’s exact words, to Sky News this morning.
“I think that parents are often saying to us that with smoking it is clear – smoking is wrong and children shouldn’t smoke, on drugs the same – but with alcohol we have never ever given any clear guidance to parents.”
The government’s smoking ban has, you see, finally hammered home the message to these benighted parents. But there is no similar message on booze.
“Parents are saying they want more information about what is safe for alcohol – that is why today we are asking the Chief Medical Officer for the first time ever, to give parents guidance on the impact of alcohol on under-18s.
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