Drugs & Alcohol - Young People & Alcohol
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Background
Youth alcohol consumption is a very real problem and remains at the forefront of issues the Government are trying to address.
A clear link has been established between youth alcohol consumption and
- Anti social behaviour
- Crime, especially criminal damage
- Illness and injury
Links also exist between alcohol and youth participation in sexual activity.
Government Statistics
Due to the increased availability of alcohol and its related drop in price alcohol was 69% more affordable in 2007 than it was in 1980.
In 2004, the government estimated that alcohol misuse costs the health service an average of £1.5 billion per year.
In 2006/07, just over 50% of offenders in offences of violence, where the attack resulted in wounding and minor injuries, were believed to be under the influence of alcohol by their victims at the time of incident.
In 2006/07, 57,142 people were admitted to NHS hospitals in England with a primary diagnosis specifically related to alcohol. This is a 52% increase since 1995/96. Of these admissions 4,888 (9%) involved patients under 18 years of age.
NHS Survey
Local statistics regarding alcohol and young people are not available but the NHS has published information which can be considered representative. This data on the drinking habits of children in England is taken from an annual NHS survey called "Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England." Over 7,500 secondary school pupils, ranging in age from 11 to 15, were surveyed in the autumn term of 2007 about their smoking, drinking and drug use habits. These pupils came from 273 schools across the Country.
The main findings in relation to young people and their attitude and use of alcohol, were:
- 20% of 11 year olds to 81% of 15 year olds had drunk alcohol at some point in their lives. 46% within the total age range had never tried it.
- 1 in 5 pupils had drunk alcohol within the last week, including 3% of 11 year olds to 41% of 15 year olds.
- Pupils who had drunk alcohol in the last week had consumed on average 12.7 units of alcohol* or the equivalent of over six pints of beer, with older pupils (15yrs) showing an average consumption of nearly 15 units.
- Of those pupils who admitted drinking in the last week, 86% of boys had consumed beer, lager or cider, 54% had drunk spirits and 49% alcopops.
- 70% of girls had drunk alcopops , 69%spirits and 60% beer, lager or cider.
- 15% of pupils thought it was okay to get drunk at least once a week. (This figure varied largely depending on age; with 3% for 11 year old pupils and 30% for 15 year old pupils.)(2006 Survey)
*The recommended safe guidelines for alcohol consumption for ADULTS is 21 units per week for men. (No more than 4 units in any one day.) 14 units per week for women. (No more than 3 units in any one day.)
Other studies have looked at the relationship between drinking, truancy and exclusion, found that truancy was found to be linked to recent drinking, but exclusion from school was not. Pupils who had played truanted were more likely to have drunk alcohol in the last seven days than pupils who had never truanted.
You can read the survey, in full or in summary form, by copying and pasting the following link into the address bar of your internet browser www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/sdd06fullreport or click here to go directly to the report.
All young people will inevitably experiment with alcohol, but if you think your child is drinking regularly or to excess please recognise there is a problem and try to get professional help. Your GP can help as can many other agencies.