Government advice to ban young teenagers from drinking alcohol defies commonsense, according to a leading Kent professor.

Professor Frank Furedi, a sociology expert at the University of Kent, was speaking after England's Chief Medical Officer advised on Thursday that children under 15 should have no alcohol at all.

According to Ofsted figures, 18 per cent of 11 - 14 year olds in Kent and 18 per cent in Medway said they have been drunk once or twice in their lives

But Professor Furedi says the 'advice' defies commonsense and is likely to be counter-productive.

He said: "This is very much about glamourising alcohol - turning it into a strange, esoteric substance, which is used outside of family life, and it denies parents the chance to acquaint their children with alcohol in a way that's most suitable for them."

Mr Furedi even allows his own 13-year-old son to drink small amounts of wine with meals.

He said "It's a way to discuss it with him, so he understands it's something you associate with eating, and to make sure he doesn't see it as an attractive, tempting form of anti-social behaviour that he ought to be involved in."

Should children be allowed to drink under the age of 15? Should parents have the right to choose when their child begins to drink alcohol? Did you start drinking before the age of 15 and now suffer health problems? Or did you start drinking before you turned 15 and are fit and healthy? Let us know by using the Make a Comment tab below.

The guidelines from Sir Liam Donaldson will not affect the law, which says parents can give their children alcohol at home provided they are not under five years of age. But it's nevertheless attracting accusations this is another example of the government meddling in family life and parental discretion.

Frank Furedi says the advice is misguided: "There are already lots of laws which aim to stop children buying and consuming alcohol. But if parents decide they want to introduce their kids to drink, to make sure they do it responsibly and cultivate good habits from an early age, then that makes sense.

~Listen: Professor Furedi tells why Brits should be more European - and treat alcohol as a family activity>>>

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame already makes efforts to talk to young people about their alcohol consumption.

A spokesman said: We have people trained to do school visits where young people can learn about responsible drinking.

We hope these help young people to make responsible choices when consuming alcohol.

•: Kent and Medway parents and teens are being urged to share views on alcohol as part of the Government consultation.

Parents, teenagers and carers in Kent and in Medway are among those being asked to share their views on guidance around young people and alcohol.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and will seek the views of young people, carers, parents and other interested parties.

The consultation is available online at www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations

In Kent and Medway there are more than 200 hospital admissions of under 18s on average each year due to alcohol-specific conditions

(source: North West Public Health Observatory)

Just under a quarter of children aged 11 - 15 in England said they get alcohol from their parents (source: NHS Information Centre).