Teenagers' binge drinking

Teenagers drinking alcohol in public places is becoming a more common occurrence, according to a new study.

Researchers found that although there has been a decrease in the number of 15 and 16-year-olds who drink alcohol, there has been an increase in the proportion of underage drinkers who drink in public places such as bars, clubs, streets and parks, and in the proportion drinking frequently (two or more times a week).

The study from the Centre for Public Health, Trading Standards North West and the Home Office estimates that 15 to 16-year-olds in the north-west of England drink a total of 84 million units a year.

This is equivalent to 44 bottles of wine (or 177 pints of beer) per year for every 15 and 16-year-old in the region, or 67 bottles of wine (269 pints of beer) per year for each 15 and 16 year old that drinks at least once a month.

Of the 190,000 teenagers in that age group in the region, about 57,000 binge drink (five or more units in one session) at least once a week.

Binge drinkers are more likely to be involved in alcohol-related violence; those who binge drink three or more times a week are more than five times as likely to be involved in alcohol-related violence than individuals who drink but do not binge.

Teenagers living in the poorest areas are also 45 per cent more likely to be involved in alcohol-related violence than those in the most affluent areas.

The study also discovered that a third of 15 to 16-year-olds are able to buy their own alcohol; these teenagers are more likely to binge drink in public places.

inthenews.co.uk brings you all the key responses and comment on the issue throughout the day.