Drinking can be a contentious subject between parents and students especially with the media reporting that young people are consuming far more alcohol and often in dangerous binge drinking episodes.

DRINKING / HANGOVERS

It will be an extremely strong minded student that never falls foul of a hangover after a social evening that went to excess.

Hopefully family have given the young person a chance to learn to handle their drinking and learn when enough is enough. However "Freshers’ Week" can often prove too big a temptation.

Teaching them to drink lots of water before going to bed helps. Also sending the student of with some "Alka Seltzer" in their first aid pack might prove worth while. Some helpful preparation in terms of what to do if your friend is totally drunk would not go amiss. Instilling the principle of never leaving a drunk alone, lying the person on their side in the recovery position to avoid the drunk inhaling vomit and not being afraid to call for help if the situation is beyond them may go towards preventing a tragedy.