Alcohol campaigners should target primary schools to warn children early about the dangers of booze, claims a Dundee councillor.
The Courier revealed the soaring number of Tayside children under 10 who have been treated for alcohol-related injuries or illness in the past three years.
The total has nearly trebled in three years, rising from 11 in 2011 to 29 in 2013.
Dundee East End councillor Lesley Brennan believes the figures reveal the need to catch children as young as possible to make them aware of the debilitating effects of alcohol.
Ms Brennan said: “There has been quite a large amount of effort spent educating teenagers with regards to alcohol.
“Perhaps we need to specifically target older primary school children to warn them about the dangers of alcohol.
“It is a collective responsibility between the council, the police and the NHS to take a very strong public health stance.
“We’re trying to reduce alcohol consumption by adults, which in turn will hopefully lead to children having a healthier relationship with alcohol in their own future.”
In both the under-10s and the 10-18 age groups, Tayside had the second highest number of children treated for alcohol-related conditions in Scotland, behind only Ayrshire and Arran.
Detective Chief Inspector Iain Wales insisted there were “robust processes” in place to make sure that children discovered under the influence of alcohol got help.
He said: “If we find any child under the influence of alcohol, whether in the street or in their home address, all children are always taken to a place of safety, which might be a hospital or taken home.
“We have close ties with partners such as social work, health and education.
“Every time a child is found under the influence of alcohol a referral is made by Police Scotland to these partner agencies.”
NHS Tayside public health consultant, Lucy Denvir said: “There are many initiatives and projects across Tayside in place to address this issue.
“For example, the Dundee Focus on Alcohol project works in partnership with local communities to promote responsible drinking and provides a coordinated response to alcohol misuse.
“Specific activities include working with families, local community groups, schools and colleges.”