This fact sheet summarises the research on young people s drinking. The focus is on young people under sixteen. Young people are drinking more alcohol, and drinking more often. The age young people begin to drink unsupervised is probably more significant than the age they first try alcohol.
Young people drink for a variety of reasons, including to look more grown-up.
Though young people may at times drink in an uncontrolled way, most will not go on to develop serious problems. The most common problems young people experience are the effects of severe intoxication, accidents, criminal involvement and unsafe sex. Young people are drinking larger amounts of alcohol. The average amount drunk by 11-15 year olds in 1990 was 0.8 units per week, rising to 1.6 units in 1998. Amongst 11-15 year olds who drink, the average rose from 5.3 units per week in 1990 to 9.9 units in 1998.