The findings from the 2004 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Abuse survey found that drinking had declined among boys, with 40 per cent of 15-year-olds drinking alcohol compared to 47 per cent in 2002. And among 13-year-old boys, both drinking and drug use dropped by three per cent.
But the statistics - gleaned from 7,000 13- and 15-year-olds across Scotland - show that the number of 15-year-old girls drinking has remained constant.
Almost half said they had drunk alcohol in the week before the survey was carried out.
Of those who were drinkers, 60 per cent of 15-year-old-girls and 52 per cent of boys were binge drinkers, consuming five or more drinks on the same occasion in the past 30 days. Girls were also more likely to be regular smokers than boys.
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