Exclusive: Alcohol - Young People Now research highlights underage drinking

The research, for which Ipsos Mori surveyed 2,334 11- to 16-year-olds across England and Wales, also found that one in five young people admit to drinking alcohol at least once a week.

Age was the biggest indicator of young people drinking regularly, with 32 per cent of 15- and 16-year-olds claiming to drink alcohol at least once a week, compared with eight per cent of 11- to 12-year-olds. But the second biggest indicator was parental attitudes. More than half of young people whose mother drinks regularly drink at least once a week, and two-thirds whose father drinks regularly.

Richard McKie, project co-ordinator at the Young People's Development Programme, a three-year initiative funded by the Department of Health, welcomed the research. "Alcohol is the great under-noticed drug, and we need more research into young people and drinking," he said. "The history of drug policy shows a lot of time spent on concern about class A drugs but in terms of negative effects alcohol and tobacco are way ahead."