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Teenagers drink 'for something to do', says survey
6 July, 2009
Charity Drinkaware calls for improved alcohol education
One in four young people drink alcohol for ‘something to do’, according to new research launched by alcohol charity Drinkaware.
The survey found that 71 per cent of 16 to 17 year olds drink once a week or more, with drinking ranking as a pastime above playing sports, reading and going to the gym or pool.
Drinkaware chief executive Chris Sorek said: “Many young people unintentionally put themselves at risk when they drink alcohol and it is crucial that young people are given the facts about drinking and its effects."
With the survey also showing that people working with teenages want more information on alcohol, Drinkware is launching an education pack, which includes a factsheet and workshop plan aimed at youth workers and teachers.
Sorek added: “Providing professionals with everything they need to help under-18s is an important part of ensuring young people are clued up when it comes to drinking.”
Readers' comments
Quite witty Pete - and spot on (from both of you). Go back a couple of hundred years and I'm quite sure the adults would have been saying the same about the kids back then as well? All that has changed is availability, personal spare time and media (more of them all)...
Those were the days, thinking back i drank more when i was 15/16 a couple of newcastle's brown done the job nicely ,but the difference from then to now, was i think, we did it in private ,not on street corners or even in the park ,we had more respect for our parents and people in general ,not withstanding we would get a good clip around the ear if caught,but the biggest difference was it was a lot harder to get a hold of it,we only had an off licence ,and the pub off licence to get it from,no mean feat in those days, now everybody sells alcohol,its on just about Evey street corner ,and that's where the problem,lies, and the ridiculously cheap cost,it just too easy to get a hold of, the pubs should be the last places to blame ,the young binge drinkers of today get their drinking education from the off trade and that's what the gov should focus on,
I'm shocked. When my generation were teenagers we drank not just 'for something to do' but quite specifically to get as pissed as a human being could get, often into complete oblivion. The youth of today obviously lack purpose and would benefit from the moral guidance of us older drinkers.
In no way do I want to denigrate these findings but it's not exactly revelatory science is it? These are exactly the things that were of serious concern about under age drinking when and where I grew up in Northumberland and Newcastle 35 years ago. When my family visited friends in Milton Keynes, Southampton, Guildford and Richmond (Yorkshire) it was the exactly the same discussion going on amongst adults: Nothing for kids to do except hang out and drink. We haven't moved on much have we?