This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
News
The number of youngsters drinking falls
New figures suggest that the number of youngsters who drink is falling.
A Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) poll of 7,500 children, aged 11-15, in England found that in 2012, only two fifths had ever drunk alcohol, compared to 61% in 2002.
Researchers found that the proportion of high school pupils who have tried drinking or smoking is highest in the north-east of England. But the proportion of youngsters who had tried drugs was highest in southern regions and lower in the north.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “We’re pleased that fewer young people are drinking, smoking and taking drugs.
“Despite clear progress, we know there’s more that can be done to support healthy behaviours in young people, including our plans to challenge alcohol manufacturers and retailers to increase their efforts through the Responsibility Deal.”
The survey also showed that 10% of pupils had drunk alcohol in the last week. The prevalence of recent drinking has reduced significantly since 2003, when 26% of pupils had drunk in the last week, and is lower than in 2011 (12%).
A spokesman for the Portman Group said: “It is encouraging to see that the number of children drinking continues to fall and that fewer children consider it acceptable to drink. However, there are still those who continue to drink, and do so to harmful levels. The industry will continue to work in partnership with both local and central government to ensure targeted and effective measures are in place to deal with under-age sales and binge-drinking where they are most prevalent.”
Progress has also been made in the number of times that children drink, with the number of pupils that drank at least once a week falling to 6% in 2012 down from 19% in 2003.
WSTA Chief Executive, Miles Beale said: “This report shows that good progress is continuing to be made in tackling underage drinking. The number of young people that have never drunk alcohol has increased and those that do drink are drinking less frequently.
“The combination of education and responsible drinking messages is reaching young people. That is why our members continue to invest millions of pounds in campaigns to change attitudes to alcohol misuse.”