Fast food bites chunk out of pocket money
Greek children spend more than 50 percent of their monthly pocket money in fast-food outlets and cafes, according to statistics released yesterday, as boys edge out girls for their piece of the family budget. A survey taken by the National Statistics Service between February 2004 and January 2005 found that children between the ages of 6 and 13 are given an average of 34.38 euros per month. Of this amount, more than 57 percent is spent on fast food, at cafeterias and in the school canteen. Girls are justified in feeling a bit cheated as they receive 33.71 euros per month, while boys get 35.05 euros. Just over 20 percent of pocket money is normally spent on entertainment and cultural activities. The survey questioned 17,386 people in 6,555 households across Greece.
