a:4:{s:5:"width";i:634;s:6:"height";i:483;s:4:"file";s:16:"2014/06/arak.jpg";s:10:"image_meta";a:10:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:8:"Europics";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:2166:"Authorities in China are dealing with what is believed to be the country's youngest alcoholic - a boy aged just two years old.

The toddler in eastern China's Anhui province has become known as the "Little Winebibber" in local media due to his preference for alcohol over milk.

Before the age of one the child named Cheng Cheng had reportedly already tasted both white and red wine and beer. Although only a toddler, the pint-sized mite can reportedly drink up a whole bottle of beer without any noticable effects.

Cheng Cheng allegedly first tried wine when he was only 10 months when his father gave him chopsticks dipped in wine to calm him down. His aunt Cai Teng said: "At that time, all of us in the family have already thought that this child can really drink a lot when he grows up."

But while his parents and relatives seem amused at his booze intake, local officials are horrified.  Meetings are being held this week to determine the future of the child, which may involve placing him in permanent care away from his parents.

Whenever his family takes out bottles of alcohol, he demands to drink some. His mother, fearing that she and her husband could face legal consequences over their questionable parenting, has reportedly tried to get him to swap booze for milk, juice or other drinks.

But she said: "His eyes are always on the alcohol bottles. We can only try their best to store the bottles in a place which in not seen by him. "

Cai said that during big festivals Cheng Cheng would cry for alcohol when he saw relatives and friends drinking. She said: "As sometimes he is really noisy, we have no options but let him to try a little bit of wine."

A few days ago, Cheng Chengs father shared a bottle of beer with Cheng Cheng who downed it in minutes.

Cai said that Cheng Chengs ability to handle alcohol has made the family both surprised and worried. "We will not let him drink or touch alcohol anymore as we afraid that it will affect his growth," she added.

Pediatricians in mainland China said that the body and organs in children at this age are not well-developed. A little bit of alcohol can easily harm their health.

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