Key documents

Reducing alcohol-related harm in accident and emergency settings
April 2011

This Alcohol Concern briefing paper outlines simple steps that A&E departments can take to identify 'at risk' young drinkers and provide access to appropriate early interventions at times when they are more receptive to advice. Evidence shows this will reduce the risk of future harm; reduce the burden on health services and save money. The key messages include:

Almost half of A&E departments (48%) have no existing mechanism for referral to specialist alcohol support, meaning health staff are unable to direct young people in crisis to treatment, support or advice.
Almost three quarters (73%) of A&E departments have not developed an alcohol harm-reduction strategy that includes young people.
Just under a quarter of A&E departments (24%) employ someone responsible for addressing alcohol in young people, usually a designated Alcohol Worker, Alcohol Liaison Nurse or similar post.
Only 17% of such roles were able to work with young people under the age of 16 years, perhaps the most vulnerable client group.
Overall, only 12 departments (9%) appear to have in place comprehensive alcohol harm-reduction interventions (answering positively to all three questions on the FOI request). This figure shrinks to only 8 departments (6%). offering the same interventions to patients aged under 16 years.

Factsheet: Young people and alcohol
January 2011

This Alcohol Concern factsheet highlights key findings from existing research on young people's drinking, indicating the prevalence of drinking amongst under 18's and associated alcohol-related issues. Key messages include:

Drinking amongst young people, in particular excessive drinking is a major concern for parents, practitioners and the wider community.
There is increasing evidence of the impact alcohol consumption is having on young people’s long and short-term health, and how excessive alcohol contributes to young people placing themselves in situations where they expose themselves to increased risk. Alcohol use amongst young people also has a direct impact on levels of crime and antisocial behaviour which impact society as a whole.
Between 2002 and 2009, 92,220 children and young people aged under-18 were admitted to hospital in England for alcohol-related conditions
After drinking alcohol, one in seven 16-24 year-olds has had unprotected sex.
A comparative European study of drinking among 15-24 year-olds showed that UK figures for alcohol consumption were some of the highest in Europe.
However, the proportion of 11-15 year-olds in England never to have drunk alcohol has risen from 39% in 2003 to 49% in 2009.

Right time, right place: alcohol-harm reduction strategies with children and young people
October 2010

This report focuses on opportunities to intervene in young people’s drinking so that they are informed and able to make healthier choices about alcohol. It draws together expert practice guidance, experience from local level delivery and new research, including previously unpublished health data, to identify important next steps in harm reduction strategy with children and young people. The document makes specific recommendations for policy and practice based on the following key findings:

In 2007/8 underage alcohol-related hospital admissions, A&E attendances and ambulance service call-outs cost health services almost £19 million.
The number of under-18 alcohol-related hospital admissions increased by nearly a 1/3 between 2002 and 2007.
In 2009, it is estimated, that ambulance services responded to over 16,300 alcohol-related call-outs.
Girls are more likely to be admitted to hospital via A&E for alcohol specific conditions than boys.

Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2009
July 2010

This report contains results from an annual survey of secondary school pupils in years 7 to 11 (mostly aged 11 to 15). 7,674 pupils in 247 schools in England completed questionnaires in the autumn term of 2009. Key findings include:

More than half (51%) of pupils aged between 11 and 15 have had at least one alcoholic drink in their lifetime.
Around one in five (18%) of pupils reported drinking alcohol in the last week.
White pupils are more likely to have drunk alcohol recently than Black or Asian pupils.
In 2009 the mean amount of alcohol consumed by pupils who had drunk in the last week was 11.6 units, down from 14.6 units in 2008.
Boys drink more than girls, and older pupils more than younger ones.
Drinking alcohol in the last week was found to be associated with other risk-taking behaviours: smoking, drug use, and truancy.

Alcohol-use disorders - preventing harmful drinking: Guidance
June 2010

This public health guidance, issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), is for government, industry and commerce, the NHS and all those whose actions affect the population’s attitude to – and use of – alcohol. It may also be of interest to members of the public. The guidance makes recommendations on how government policies on alcohol pricing, its availability and how it is marketed could be used to combat alcohol-related harm. The document makes specific recommendations for practice when working with children and young people. These cover:

Children and young people aged 10 to 15 years – assessing their ability to consent, judging their alcohol use, discussion and referral to specialist services.
Young people aged 16 and 17 years – identification, offering motivational support or referral to specialist services.

Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people
December 2009

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, published guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people. The guidance makes the following key recommendations:

Children and their parents and carers are advised that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years.
If 15-17 year-olds consume alcohol, it should always be with the guidance of a parent or carer or in a supervised envrionment.
Parents and young people should be made aware that drinking, even at the age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health.
If 15-17 year-olds do consume alcohol, they should do so infrequently and certainly on no more than one day a week.
Young people aged 15-17 years should never exceed recommended adult daily limits and, on days when they drink, consumption should usually be below such levels.
The importance of parental influences on children's alcohol use should be communicated to parents, carers and professionals.
Parents and carers require advice on how to respond to alcohol use and misuse by children.
Support services must be available for children and young people who have alcohol-related problems and their parents.