Martin Buczkiewicz Martin Buczkiewicz

Helen LeeHelen Lee

David UffindallDavid Uffindall

Young people and Young people and alcoholalcohol

Alcohol & Young People – European perspective• British, Irish & Danish British, Irish & Danish teenagers are the teenagers are the heaviest teenage heaviest teenage drinkers in Europedrinkers in Europe

• 94% of UK 15-16 year 94% of UK 15-16 year olds have consumed olds have consumed alcohol at least oncealcohol at least once

• 47% have drunk 47% have drunk alcohol at least 40 times alcohol at least 40 times compared to 20% in compared to 20% in France and 15% in France and 15% in PortugalPortugal

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 33% of 15 year olds in UK report having in UK report having been drunk at least been drunk at least once by age 13 or once by age 13 or earlier compared to earlier compared to 10% of French or 10% of French or Italian young peopleItalian 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 In the last week about 20% of 13 year olds will 20% of 13 year olds will have had an alcoholic have had an alcoholic drinkdrink• In the last week In the last week 49% of 15 year old 49% of 15 year old boys and 45% of girls boys and 45% of girls of the same age will of the same age will have had an alcoholic have had an alcoholic drinkdrink

Source: DoH provisional data Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in

England in 2002 NCRE/NFER

Age & Age & DrinkingDrinking1.1. 90% adults drink at home, half weekly, 90% adults drink at home, half weekly,

therefore many children observe therefore many children observe alcohol use at first hand from an early alcohol use at first hand from an early age age (HEA/RSGB, 1991)(HEA/RSGB, 1991)

3. First experiences of alcohol - 8-12 yrs (often controlled by adult supervision)

Ref: Coleman, L & Cater, S – Education & Health SHEU Vol 21 No 3, 2003

2. The age at which young people start drinking has not changed in recent years

Age & Age & DrinkingDrinking4.4. Unsupervised drinking by 65% of Unsupervised drinking by 65% of

pupils between 13-14 years pupils between 13-14 years Ref: Boys, A et al (2001) Survey 2000; a follow up study of alcoholRef: Boys, A et al (2001) Survey 2000; a follow up study of alcohol

use amongst 15-17 year olds, National Addiction Centreuse amongst 15-17 year olds, National Addiction Centre

Ref: Coleman, L & Cater, S – Education & Health SHEU Vol 21 No 3, 2003

5. Boys start drinking at an earlier age than girls but these differences are lost by mid-teenage

6. Experience of drinking increases with age: 5% at 11 yrs to 50% at 15 yrs drinking in previous week

Ref: DoH Ref: DoH Drug Use, smoking and Drug Use, smoking and drinking among young people in drinking among young people in

England in 2001 England in 2001

20%-27% had20%-27% had alcoholic drinkalcoholic drink

in last week; morein last week; moreboys thanboys than

girls;girls; no overall no overall

change 88-01change 88-01

Around 40%of 11-15

year oldsdo 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%, 11-15

yrs); boys more than girls (22% - 18%)

Ref: Boreham, R & Shaw, A (2002)

Proportion of Proportion of young people young people drinking drinking alcoholalcohol

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 11-12

• 60% 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 UK 20022002 Age 12-13

About ¼ drank alcohol in

previous week(Balding 2002)

Age 14-15

• 43% students had consumed 5 or more alcoholic drinks in a single session = binge drinking

Source: Beinhart S et al (2002) Youth at Risk?

Age 15-16

• 50% 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 inthe last month

Age 15-16Age 15-16

• 80% drunk alcohol

in last month

• 39% boys & 33%

girls respectively

describe

themselves as

“regular drinkers”

UK UK 20022002

Alcohol & Young People• In drinkers, 11-15 yrs, In drinkers, 11-15 yrs,

average consumption average consumption has risen from 5.3 units has risen from 5.3 units p.w. in 1990 to 10.4 in p.w. in 1990 to 10.4 in 2000 2000 (Down to 9.8 in 2002)(Down to 9.8 in 2002)

• Age factor; 11-13 yrs Age factor; 11-13 yrs 6.8 units > 12.9 for 15 6.8 units > 12.9 for 15 yrsyrs

• Boys tend to drink Boys tend to drink more than girls; mean more than girls; mean of 10 units for 14-15 yr of 10 units for 14-15 yr males, 8 for females males, 8 for females –

Balding, J (2002) Young people in 2001

Source: DoH School Survey 2002

DoH DoH Drug Use, smoking and drinking among young Drug Use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in 2001people in England in 2001

Drinking patternsDrinking patterns

• 12-13 yrs – curiosity; socialising; 12-13 yrs – curiosity; socialising; claim to have drunk alcohol; choice claim to have drunk alcohol; choice of drink not importantof drink not important

• 14-15 yrs – testing limits; having 14-15 yrs – testing limits; having fun; enjoy getting out of control; fun; enjoy getting out of control; drink is strong, cheap & pleasant drink is strong, cheap & pleasant tastingtasting• 16-17 yrs – want to be adult & 16-17 yrs – want to be adult & sophisticated; to show maturity & sophisticated; to show maturity & experienceexperience

Ref: Hughes, K et al (1997) Young people, alcohol & designer drinks, BMJ Vol 13, 8/02

Types of alcohol usedTypes of alcohol used

• Beer, Lager, Cider & Beer, Lager, Cider & Alcopops most popularAlcopops most popular

• Shandy & Wine Shandy & Wine preferred by younger preferred by younger agesages

• Girls, more than boys, Girls, more than boys, favour Wine, Spirits & favour Wine, Spirits & AlcopopsAlcopops

Ref: Coleman, L & Cater, S – Education & Health SHEU Vol 21 No 3, 2003

Drinking locationsDrinking locations

11-15 year olds

Own Home

Friend’s home

Parks/ streets

Pubs Parties

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 15-17 year olds, National Addiction Centre

* * Goddard, E & Higgins, V. (2000) Smoking, drinking and drug use amongst teenagers in 1998

Drinking locationsDrinking locations• Most popular venue for under-age Most popular venue for under-age drinkers is the home followed by friend’s drinkers is the home followed by friend’s home and outdoorshome and outdoors

• Drinkers at home less likely to get Drinkers at home less likely to get drunk than those who drink at friends or drunk than those who drink at friends or outdoorsoutdoors

• High volume drinks (e.g. White Ciders) High volume drinks (e.g. White Ciders) more likely to be consumed outdoors & more likely to be consumed outdoors & when combined with environmental when combined with environmental factors there is an increased risk of factors there is an increased risk of alcohol-related harmalcohol-related harm

Ref: Forsyth, A & Bernard, M (2000) Preferred drinking locations of Scottish adolescents

• After alcohol use 1 in 7 of 16-24 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 thinkSource: HEA 1998 &

Social Exclusion Unit 1999

* Wight, D et al Extent of regretted sexual intercourse among young teenagers in Scotland. 2000 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 11-16 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 Ethnic, cultural and religious diversity and alcoholalcohol