Father Loses 2 Young Children In Tornado
Why It's Hard To Get Along With Your In-Laws
British Teens Get Booze in Return for STD Testing
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True, Extreme Childhood
British health officials are trading alcohol for STD tests with children as young as 16. Credit: jesus leon, Flickr
Britain's National Union of Students proposed the countrywide plan, according to the Daily Mail. Students who volunteer to be tested are given tokens which can be redeemed for alcoholic beverages. The move comes as cases of chlamydia are rising among kids ages 16-24, making it the most common STD in the UK. More than 120,000 cases were reported last year.
Here's the real shocker -- kids are abusing the program. Gee, who could have seen that one coming? According to the Mail, events during which the tokens can be redeemed have descended into drunken mayhem.Politicians and medical experts, including Britain's Department of Health, are criticizing the scheme, saying that it encourages binge drinking.
"The organizers are naive to think that when alcohol's involved, students wouldn't work out a way to abuse the system, Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe told the Mail. "Using alcohol to bribe youths into testing is also unsuitable as we're trying to curb binge drinking not promote it."
The events are often held in bars or clubs, with the testing area set up within spitting distance of the bartender. One student told the Mail that the event she attending at the Sports Cafe in central London resulted in hundreds of drunk kids.
"There were loads of people who headed down there when they worked out there was free booze on offer," the unnamed woman said. "They weren't interested in getting tested to see if they had a serious health problem, just how quick they could get drunk."
File this one under "whose bright idea was that?" How many of those drunk students went home and had risky sex? We're betting more than a few.
Hey, England, you know what's a big motivator? Cash. Give that a try next time.
Related: British Scouts Get Condoms
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
- PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS AS TO THE ANSWER BY DEFENDANTS ______________________________. Plaintiff, ________________________ h...
- Alot of .gov when submitting a program or proposal for government agency (be sure you personally can provide for the agency)
- . two ways to lose property's selling or debt ( debt property is sold to pay debt) the debt has to be proved) court managing property?
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
British "Test Tube Baby" Pioneer Robert Edwards Dies
His work has given millions the chance to realize their dreams of becoming parents. Robert Edwards, the British scientist known as the father of IVF, for his pioneering work developing "test tube babies" died on Wednesday at age 87.
-
Britain Tests Missiles
New British nuclear-powered submarine has test fired its cruise missile weaponry in the Gulf of Mexico. HMS Astute, which is due to enter operational service in 2012, has the largest weapon-carrying capacity of all the Royal Navy's attack submarines, according to the British Ministry of Defence. MoD video, released to the media, shows Tomahawk missiles arching into the skies after being fired from beneath the waves.
-
'I Witnessed Atomic Bomb Tests'
Ken McGinley, who witnessed British nuclear tests in the Pacific, talks to the BBC about the tests and how he thinks they affected his life.
-
Wallabies Coach Warns His Squad Their Series With British and Irish Lions Will Be "the Ultimate Rugby Experience".
Australia rugby coach Robbie Deans says he is unsurprised by the selection of the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia in June and July. He said he expected the tourists to play to traditional northern hemisphere strengths of power and tactical kicking in three tests that will give his players the "ultimate rugby experience" as the Lions look for their first series victory for 16 years.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
10-14-2009 @ 9:23AM
Mihir said..."Hey, England, you know what's a big motivator? Cash. Give that a try next time."
yeah! let 'em buy their own booze dammit!
Reply
2-23-2010 @ 1:21PM
L'amant Noir said...Dear,
The Not So "Glorious".
I read your comment and it made me laugh rather heartily. Like this: Hahahaaaaaaa. The reason being, I am a fully-grown Anglo-Indian woman living in London with an open-mind. I would, however, like to niggle at a few points you stated.
" "Fabulously hip and incredibly cool" sophisticated clapped-out, used up cynics who find no joy in life. "
Have you ever been to England...? Have you ever met more than three English men or women? I enjoy life to the full! I love mine! I have a fabulous man and a lovely, tidy house! If you're only gathering this evidence from Ricky Gervais, Simon Cowell etc, you really need to get out there. The reason the English might come off as cynical is because we laugh at ourselves. We're pretty much rubbish at everything, so instead of getting depressed about it, we laugh! I can say, it's very enjoyable! Lifts a lot of stress off of your chest.
" They use Sex, Fashion, and other unsatisfying "things" to fulfill themselves and I feel very sorry for this country. "
Paris Hilton. I can't say any more, can I?
" live now like the pagans they evolved from. "
My best mate is Pagan. Wanna say that again? Why should religion even be a priority? Shouldn't it be clothing the homeless, helping the poor, aid those in need? If you're willing to help, that means you're a good person. Does it matter about what religion you follow? I love all religions and races. I love them all. I am personally a Hindu, but I find all religions beautiful. We learn a lot about our psychology from them, about history and everything! My partner is Christian, we are very happy together. I love how religion can bring people together - but what I hate is when it becomes a prejudice. So please, be a little more respectful to your fellow Earth-sharers, the Pagans. Because without them, Christianity or any structured religion would not have spread to the British Isles and therefore America would be atheist. And America is a brilliant place: you're all so patriotic and friendly!
The English people are not all sophisticated upper-class posh twats. We go to work and go to bed. We have a lower-class too. I do volunteer work in a soup kitchen.
And this article is slightly biased, honestly - because so many people, including me, found this a stupid idea. Incredibly stupid, ridiculous. Our government needs sorting out, yes, but every country has problems. I'm on your side!
But to conclude, I've enjoyed being your not-so-stereotypical English writer, I've found this comment funny - but very irritating, and I'm sorry you were the other side of my rant. Consider who might be viewing your comments.
So please.
Research, my dear.
Loads of love and "cups of tea",
L'amant Noir.
xoxo.
Reply