Is Santa a bad role model for children ?
By Ella Nicholls

Depending on your religious beliefs (and age) Christmas isn’t Christmas without Santa. However, this jovial, plump and white bearded man has become a national lie, bought into universally by parents, older children, teachers, businesses, TV broadcasters, film makers: the list goes on.  For children on Christmas Eve, Santa sets off on his journey around the world in his sleigh, along with all his reindeer, brings them their presents directly into their house, drinks the milk, beer and mince pies the children leave out for him and then sets off again to the next house. 
But here’s a controversial opinion for you. Legally and ethically, Santa, through a highly flawed plan, corrupts the morals our children otherwise live by.
Here are some of the of the reasons why Santa needs to be stopped:  

• Santa encourages drinking driving. He drinks the beer left out for him by all the boys and girls, consumes many, many litres of alcohol and still continues to drive his sleigh. By normal standards he would be in a cell right about now.
• His diet, consisting mainly of mince pies and cookies, not only increases his chance of getting coronary heart disease, but also encourages children to mimic his eating habits.
• When delivering presents, Santa is breaking and entering. This only advertises crime to be acceptable for young children
• He also is an advocate for misogyny, leaving Mrs Claus unemployed and forced to stay at home all year round.
• Finally, the very idea of Christmas being an annual event means Santa’s employment contract only has him in work for 24 hours a year, idleness at its finest. This promotes the message that being lazy is justifiable.

Despite this, for millions of years Santa has been a key part of Christmas, and whilst his crimes may have been acceptable all those years ago, his morals and lifestyle do not suit this ever changing world.