Good alcohol plan

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland is introducing a scheme to encourage young adults to drink with their parents.

A series of events planned for Cork and Kerry will encourage parents and their children to enjoy alcohol in a “sensible manner”.

The VFI says it is designed to reduce the volume of alcohol young people drink at home or outside of the licensed trade.

That may appear to be self-serving — so to speak — on behalf of the VFI, yet it is not without merit.

Many adults of a certain age will recall being first introduced to alcohol by a parent in a benign and caring environment. That has all but disappeared.

Anyone unfortunate enough to witness drunken 15 and 16 year olds celebrating Junior Cert results this week will undoubtedly welcome this initiative.