CYP Now - Health: Advice on ... Alcohol

At least half of 11- to 15-year-olds admit to drinking alcohol, which has led to growing concern about how this could affect their developing bodies. Addaction's Rebecca Cheshire considers some of the ways youth workers can tackle the problem.

Q: How many teenagers use alcohol?

The Smoking, Drinking and Drug use among Young People in England 2006 report, carried out on behalf of the Home Office, found more than half of pupils aged between 11 to 15 have had at least one alcoholic drink. The percentage increased from 21 per cent of 11-year-olds to 82 per cent of 15-year-olds.

One in five reported having drunk alcohol in the past seven days, and boys and girls were equally likely to have drunk. The majority at the younger end of the age range reported drinking alcohol at home with their parents.

One of our key concerns is binge drinking among young people. We have recognised a trend where young people 'pre-load' by drinking cheap alcohol at home before going out to consume more alcohol.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included