It said new research had shown that alcohol caused irreparable damage to the growing brain. It killed the part of the brain responsible for relaying messages between cells.

John Rogerson, father of two and CEO of the Australian Drug Foundation reminded parents that it was still legal in most parts of Australia to provide kids with alcohol.

“As the law currently stands, in most parts of Australia, anyone could give your kid a drink or 10 and not be responsible for the consequences,” he said

In the lead-up to a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting on 7 December, the Foundation was urgently calling for national legislation to provide a safeguard for all Australian kids against alcohol-related harm.

“It’s hard to believe this sort of preventative policy isn’t already in place across most of Australia, so we’re calling on the Federal Government to take action.

“It’s about prevention and awareness more than anything. Especially in the leadup to Schoolies week, parents need to really consider whether it’s okay to be giving kids all that booze and what the impact will be.”

Australian research shows that 96 per cent of kids under the age of 17 have tried alcohol, with 21 per cent drinking weekly, which indicates kids have easy access to alcohol and are drinking too much.

“If someone gave my kids two boxes of beer at a house party and something happened, I’d be wanting someone to take responsibility. If this legislation was in place years ago, lives could have been saved.”