Drinking and bullying Millions of adolescents in some of the wealthiest countries in the world are seriously affected by alcohol abuse and bullying behaviours that compromise their health and limit their chances to become successful adults. Both alcohol abuse and bullying, found at high levels in a number of industrialized countries, according to a WHO youth health survey, are associated with alienation from school and home, as well as low academic achievement.
Boys are at higher risk than girls.
In the countries surveyed, the highest levels of alcohol abuse among both boys and girls are found in Denmark. Denmark is the only country where girls have a higher rate of alcohol abuse than boys. Teens who misuse alcohol are more likely to develop health problems and die prematurely. The behaviour, however, is considerably less frequent among girls than boys. A Cross-National Survey , WHO Regional Publications, European Series No. 69, 1996.