The Dutch municipality of The Hague has banned all its schools from serving alcohol. The measure is to take effect immediately.

For years it has been common practice in the Netherlands to serve alcoholic beverages at schools on such special occasions as anniversaries and graduation parties.

However, The Hague is now the first big city in the Netherlands to bar alcohol from schools. On Friday, city councilman and Green Left party-member Bert van Alphen will open a campaign on the theme of ‘alcohol-free education’. It will emphasize the responsible consumption of alcohol. And that means that the upcoming graduation parties will have to be alcohol free.

To strengthen the message of responsibility, the local authorities in The Hague have decided not to allow an exemption for serving alcohol at school parties. This means that parents and staff will also need to stick to alcohol-free beverages at school events. Both groups have been informed about the new approach.

At primary schools and technical vocational training schools (ROCs) the ban will be effective from next year.

Many schools in The Hague have already stopped serving alcohol at school events and most institutions now hire local police officers to block entrance to youngsters who have been drinking at home. Out of 20,000 high school students in the city, 77 percent admitted to having drunk alcohol. Nationwide, the total is 79 percent. The city says research has shown it is healthier to postpone alcohol consumption until the age of 18.