Early drinking

Positive Futures, a Home Office-funded social-inclusion scheme for disadvantaged and socially marginalised young people, has reported the results of a survey on alcohol consumption. Of 1250 disadvantaged teenagers questioned, 42% started drinking before the age of 13, with 29% saying they drink to get drunk. Beer was the most popular drink (35%), then spirits (29%), cider and wine. Half of those questioned said drinking had led to fights, violence and aggression. Drinking was also associated with vandalism and 17% said it led to sexual irresponsibility. The most common reasons for taking up drinking were that friends drank, and it looked like fun. Parents condoned or did not care about their drinking and 42% knew family and friends with alcohol-related problems. 52% said they got alcohol from their local shops and 22% got alcohol at home from their family. The survey illustrates the importance of parents/peer group behaviour and the accessibility of alcohol on the prevalence of under-age drinking in this vulnerable group.