A survey shows that Israeli sixth graders are tied for second place around the world in consumption of alcohol.
In the Ukraine, 21.9 percent of sixth graders are considered “drinkers,” while in Israel and Romania, the rate is 13 pecent. Israel is ahead of countries such as Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Russia and England, whose rates range from 7.7 percent to 11.2 percent. The survey was conducted in 40 countries by the World Health Organization, overseen in Israel by Dr. Yossi Harel, an expert researcher in youth violence.
Rabbi Dr. Zinni: The youth’s escape to alcohol is an expression of the destruction of values in which we find ourselves.
In addition, Dr. Harel has found that the number of boys in Israel who get drunk at least once a month is climbing sharply. The rate was 8.5 percent in 1994, nearly doubled itself by 2002, and stood at 18.9 percent the last time it was measured, in 2006.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu commented, “We have a plague of alcohol that is spreading like a virus, and we want to stop it now – via legislation, enforcement and education.”
Public Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovitch (Israel Our Home) agreed, but said, “Someone is going to have to write the check.” Netanyahu recently announced a two percent cut of most ministry budgets.
Education Minister Gideon Saar said he plans to reinforce and expand educational activity on the matter, with the objective of emphasizing the dangers of drinking for youths and children. The Education Ministry has already instructed fifth-grade teachers to begin teaching the dangers of drinking to children.
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved this week proposed legislation by MK Yochanan Plesner (Kadima) that would send adults to jail for three months for buying alcoholic drinks for minors.
Rabbi Zinni of Technion: Drink Has Replaced Values
Mathematics Professor Rabbi Eliyahu Zinni, head of the Ohr V’Yeshuah Yeshivat Hesder in Haifa and the Rabbi of the Technion, says, “The problem is not just alcohol, but something much more comprehensive."
Speaking with Arutz-7’s Hebrew newsmagazine on Monday evening, Rabbi Zinni said, “The youth’s escape to alcohol is an expression of the destruction of values in which we find ourselves. How can we ask them not to drink when we are unable to design a ladder of values and ideals for them?... The only thing that interests them today is how to make money…”
“I don’t understand how Education Minister Saar plans to fight this phenomenon when he himself goes to take part in gay community events in Tel Aviv with people who symbolize more than anything the loss of ideals to create a new generation that will continue after us.”
“We have to give our youths ideals to hold onto, and then they won’t want to try to forget reality via drugs and drink. It’s true that through the back door we allowed into our country all sorts of people who brought in drugs and drink, but a strong value-based society should be able to deal with that.”