Pre-teens drinking alcohol
Wednesday, 23 Jan 2008 10:36
Children aged under 13 are drinking alcohol to get drunk, survey finds
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Youngsters aged under 13 are drinking alcohol to get drunk, a national survey of drinking attitudes has revealed today.
The poll by charity Crime Concern found that drinking to get drunk is starting at a younger age, increasing the risk of health- and crime-related problems.
Twenty-nine per cent of the 1,250 ten to 19-year-olds surveyed said they drink with the aim of being drunk and 42 per cent said they first had alcohol when under the age of 13.
Half of parents were reported to condone or not care about their children's drinking, despite a quarter of those surveyed saying they had been in trouble with the police due to drinking.
Half of the youngsters questioned said they had been involved in fighting, violence and aggression as a result of drinking.
Despite their own involvement in drinking alcohol, a high level of support was expressed by the youngsters for measures to reduce alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour.
Nearly half said sports and leisure activities aimed at young people are a good idea and 38 per cent said they wanted better information on the impact of alcohol consumption on health.
Crime Concern chief executive Clare Checksfield warned that by drinking alcohol at an early age "young people are taking risks with their health and with their future by getting involved in alcohol-related violence".
"When young people are drinking young, then prevention work has to start early, too," she added.
"Now is the time to act. We need to tackle a wider drinking culture and together make certain that parents and peer groups are involved."
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker welcomed the report and said it would impact on efforts to tackle harmful alcohol consumption among young people.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes added: "We have been working to develop [the alcohol] strategy with detailed plans for additional government action – specifically on young people and alcohol – that we will announce in March 2008.
"The report is important because it adds to our thinking and crucially tells us about young people's drinking patterns from the young people themselves. It's time to build on this knowledge."