The new initiative has been proposed by the Kerry branch of the Vintner’s Association of Ireland. The idea is that parents will take their 18 and 19 year-old children with them to the pub, in an effort to teach them to drink safely and responsibly.

A major aim of the scheme would be to try and persuade young drinkers to cut down on ‘pre-drinking’ and other binging habits. Parents could monitor their children's alcohol intake, while the kids themselves might be dissuaded to drink to excess. Special events will be held to try and encourage parents to bring their drinking age teenagers along with them, and also - perhaps more challengingly - persuade the teens themselves it’s a good idea.

Chris and Ivan briefly discussed the initiative on Breakfast this morning:

Pat talked to Dr. Conor Farren, a psychatrist specialising in treatment of alcoholism and addictions, who thinks it's "an appalling idea. The last thing in the world is that teenagers in Ireland today need to be encouraged to go to the pub, to normalise drinking, and model their drinking habits on their adult parents."

One other potential aspect of the move, expected to be trialled in December, is that it could help support local pubs by decreasing the amount teenagers spend at off-licenses before heading out to night clubs and late bars. It’s also hoped that it will help improve the relationships between teenagers and their parents.

Do you think the initiative is a good idea or destined for failure? Are there more effective ways of encouraging teenagers to drink responsibly? Are initiatives like this just reaffirming Ireland’s drinking culture? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.