BENDIGO had its name up in lights yesterday morning in some national media outlets, but sadly it was for all the wrong reasons. A Senate inquiry into teenage drinking had uncovered claims that ambulance paramedics were regularly being called to attend to drunken 12 and 13 year olds. The only problem was the comments were more than 18 months old and were yesterday hosed down by the very same organisation that first made the claims back in 2006, namely Rural Ambulance Victoria.

Having clarified such an inglorious claim to fame, it must be said that the incidence of teenage drinking in the community is not acceptable, and the need to emphasise that alcohol is a drug that must be respected, is paramount.

Having a cold beer after a hard day’s work or enjoying a glass of a good local wine are among some of life’s greatest pleasures for many of us, but there is a huge difference between this sort of responsible alcohol consumption and the culture of binge drinking and overindulgence that causes so many problems for our society.

Need we remind readers that the state’s road toll is up, not down, on the previous year.

It is interesting to note too how the Transport Accident Commission’s advertising campaign involving the families of young people killed on the state’s roads is back on the air - a powerful, emotional and all too real reminder of the waste of life that is the road toll. What do you think? Write a letter to the editor, or e-mail editor@bendigoadvertiser.com.au