Martin Buczkiewicz Helen Lee David Uffindall Young people and alcohol

Alcohol & Young People – European perspective British, Irish & Danish teenagers are the heaviest teenage drinkers in Europe British, Irish & Danish teenagers are the heaviest teenage drinkers in Europe 94% of UK year olds have consumed alcohol at least once 94% of UK year olds have consumed alcohol at least once 47% have drunk alcohol at least 40 times compared to 20% in France and 15% in Portugal 47% have drunk alcohol at least 40 times compared to 20% in France and 15% in Portugal Source: IAS 2003, Hibbell et al (2000), Alcohol & other drug use among students in 30 European countries, Sweden ESPAD

Alcohol & Young People – European perspective 33% of 15 year olds in UK report having been drunk at least once by age 13 or earlier compared to 10% of French or Italian young people 33% of 15 year olds in UK report having been drunk at least once by age 13 or earlier compared to 10% of French or Italian young people Source: IAS 2003, Hibbell et al (2000), Alcohol & other drug use among students in 30 European countries, Sweden ESPAD

Alcohol & Young People – European perspective In the last week about 20% of 13 year olds will have had an alcoholic drink In the last week about 20% of 13 year olds will have had an alcoholic drink In the last week 49% of 15 year old boys and 45% of girls of the same age will have had an alcoholic drink In the last week 49% of 15 year old boys and 45% of girls of the same age will have had an alcoholic drink Source: DoH provisional data Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2002 NCRE/NFER

Age & Drinking 1.90% adults drink at home, half weekly, therefore many children observe alcohol use at first hand from an early age (HEA/RSGB, 1991) 3. 3.First experiences of alcohol yrs (often controlled by adult supervision) Ref: Coleman, L & Cater, S – Education & Health SHEU Vol 21 No 3, The age at which young people start drinking has not changed in recent years

Age & Drinking 4.Unsupervised drinking by 65% of pupils between years pupils between years Ref: Boys, A et al (2001) Survey 2000; a follow up study of alcohol Ref: Boys, A et al (2001) Survey 2000; a follow up study of alcohol use amongst year olds, National Addiction Centre use amongst year olds, National Addiction Centre Ref: Coleman, L & Cater, S – Education & Health SHEU Vol 21 No 3, Boys start drinking at an earlier age than girls but these differences are lost by mid- teenage 6. 6.Experience of drinking increases with age: 5% at 11 yrs to 50% at 15 yrs drinking in previous week

Ref: DoH Drug Use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in %-27% had alcoholic drink alcoholic drink in last week; more in last week; more boys than girls; no overall no overall change Around 40% of year olds do not drink alcohol

Ref:Boreham, R & Shaw (Eds), (2001) Smoking, drinking & drug use among young teenagers in 2000

From 13% (1988) to 20% (2001); weekly drinking increases with age; (4%-43%, yrs); boys more than girls (22% - 18%) Ref: Boreham, R & Shaw, A (2002) Proportion of young people drinking alcohol The proportion of young people drinking alcohol has remained stable in the last decade – but the proportion reporting drinking at least weekly has increased Ref: Coleman, L & Cater, S – Education & Health SHEU Vol 21 No 3, 2003

Age % boys & 50% girls had tried an alcoholic drink Only 9% & 5% respectively describe themselves as regular drinkers Source: Beinhart S et al (2002) Source: Beinhart S et al (2002) Youth at Risk? UK 2002 Age About ¼ drank alcohol in previous week (Balding 2002) Age % students had consumed 5 or more alcoholic drinks in a single session = binge drinking

Source: Beinhart S et al (2002) Youth at Risk? Age % students had consumed 5 or more alcoholic drinks in a single session = binge drinking More than 25% students reported 3 or more binge drinking sessions in the last month Age % drunk alcohol in last month 39% boys & 33% girls respectively describe themselves as regular drinkers UK 2002

Alcohol & Young People In drinkers, yrs, average consumption has risen from 5.3 units p.w. in 1990 to 10.4 in 2000 (Down to 9.8 in 2002) In drinkers, yrs, average consumption has risen from 5.3 units p.w. in 1990 to 10.4 in 2000 (Down to 9.8 in 2002) Age factor; yrs 6.8 units > 12.9 for 15 yrs Age factor; yrs 6.8 units > 12.9 for 15 yrs Boys tend to drink more than girls; mean of 10 units for yr males, 8 for females Boys tend to drink more than girls; mean of 10 units for yr males, 8 for females – Balding, J (2002) Young people in 2001 Source: DoH School Survey 2002 DoH Drug Use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in 2001

Drinking patterns yrs – curiosity; socialising; claim to have drunk alcohol; choice of drink not important yrs – curiosity; socialising; claim to have drunk alcohol; choice of drink not important yrs – testing limits; having fun; enjoy getting out of control; drink is strong, cheap & pleasant tasting yrs – testing limits; having fun; enjoy getting out of control; drink is strong, cheap & pleasant tasting yrs – want to be adult & sophisticated; to show maturity & experience yrs – want to be adult & sophisticated; to show maturity & experience Ref: Hughes, K et al (1997) Young people, alcohol & designer drinks, BMJ Vol 13, 8/02

Types of alcohol used Beer, Lager, Cider & Alcopops most popular Beer, Lager, Cider & Alcopops most popular Shandy & Wine preferred by younger ages Shandy & Wine preferred by younger ages Girls, more than boys, favour Wine, Spirits & Alcopops Girls, more than boys, favour Wine, Spirits & Alcopops Ref: Coleman, L & Cater, S – Education & Health SHEU Vol 21 No 3, 2003

Drinking locations Drinking locations year olds Own Home Friends home Parks/ streets PubsParties Boys, A et al * 50%69%34%30%- Goddard, E & Higgins, V ** 43%18%21%-22% * Boys, A et al (2001) Survey 2000; a follow up study of alcohol use amongst year olds, National Addiction Centre * * Goddard, E & Higgins, V. (2000) Smoking, drinking and drug use amongst teenagers in 1998

Drinking locations Drinking locations Most popular venue for under-age drinkers is the home followed by friend s home and outdoors Most popular venue for under-age drinkers is the home followed by friend s home and outdoors Drinkers at home less likely to get drunk than those who drink at friends or outdoors Drinkers at home less likely to get drunk than those who drink at friends or outdoors High volume drinks (e.g. White Ciders) more likely to be consumed outdoors & when combined with environmental factors there is an increased risk of alcohol-related harm High volume drinks (e.g. White Ciders) more likely to be consumed outdoors & when combined with environmental factors there is an increased risk of alcohol-related harm Ref: Forsyth, A & Bernard, M (2000) Preferred drinking locations of Scottish adolescents

After alcohol use 1 in 7 of year olds have had unsafe sex; 1 in 5 regretted it 1 in 10 unable to recall if they had sex the night before; 40% of 13/14 year olds were stoned or drunk when they first experienced sexual intercourse* I think Source: HEA 1998 & Social Exclusion Unit 1999 * Wight, D et al Extent of regretted sexual intercourse among young teenagers in Scotland BMJ, no. 7244

Lower level of alcohol use among Black British, African-Caribbean or Asian people than the British population as a whole (McKeigue & Karmi, A,(1993), Alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in Afro-Caribbeans and South Asians in the UK, Alcohol & Alcoholism, Vol 28, pp1-10 and Johnson & Carroll, (1995) Dealing with Diversity, HODPI) 19% white year olds drink alcohol at least once a week compared to 8% of black pupils and 3% of Asians, although an increase in the latter, especially among Hindus has been reported (Denscombe, M & Drucquer, N. (2000) Diversity within ethnic groups; alcohol & tobacco consumption by young people in the East Midlands, Health Education Journal vol 59, no.4, Dec 2000) Ethnic, cultural and religious diversity and alcohol Ethnic, cultural and religious diversity and alcohol