Key documents

Factsheet: Young people and alcohol
September 2009

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.
Over half (52%) of 11-15 year-olds had drunk at least one alcohol drink in their lifetime. This increases with age from 16% of 11 year-olds to 81% of 15 year-olds.
Boys tend to drink more than girls. Studies indicate that boys who drank in the last week drank more units of alcohol (16.0 units) than girls who drank in the last week (13.1 units). (2008)
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 48% in 2008.

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.

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.