- Most young people start to drink alcohol between the ages of 11 to 15. Although the proportion of young people who are drinking has declined recently, those who do drink are doing so more often. The average weekly consumption of alcohol by 11- to 15-year-olds doubled from five units in 1990 to 10 in 2000
- Research shows that the younger a person is when they start to drink, the greater their risk of alcohol-related problems later in life. These can include liver damage, gout, pancreatitis, coronary heart disease, strokes and depression
- Young people are more likely to find themselves in dangerous situations if they have been drinking, as alcohol affects judgment. A report by the Cabinet of Office Statistics showed that a quarter of all young prisoners had been drinking when they committed their crime. Heavy alcohol consumption also leads to casual and unprotected sex and fights breaking out
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