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Survey finds child intake of alcohol is high

Survey finds child intake of alcohol is high

31st October 2011

Researchers have found that a small proportion of 12 and 13-year-olds regularly consume 28 units of alcohol or more a week.

According to data collected by the Schools Health Education Unit (SHUE), 4% of that age group drank an amount equal to 19 glasses of wine a week.

However, the data collected from 84,000 young people showed that less were drinking and smoking than in previous years.

The poll collected information from 1,100 primary and secondary schools in the UK and polled young people aged from 10-15 years of age.

Dr David Regis from SHUE said the data showed positive and negative aspects of young people's thoughts about alcohol. 

"When we're looking at the alcohol figures there's good and bad news in there at the same time," he told the BBC.

"We've got an increasing number of pupils who are saying as far as they're concerned, alcohol is not for them at all, so the number of teetotallers has been going up in recent years, but we've also seen those youngsters that do drink maybe more likely than ever to go over the top."

A Department of Health spokesman said children younger than 15 should not be consuming any alcohol.

He added: "We are... doubling the maximum fine for under-age alcohol sales to £20,000 and extending the period of voluntary closure that can be given as an alternative to prosecution for persistent under-age selling from 48 hours to two weeks." 

 

 

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