UK underage drinking falls to lowest recorded levels

Government statistics show that underage drinking in the UK continues to decline and is now at its lowest recorded level.

Underage drinking has fallen to an all-time low in the UK, with research indicating many 11-15 year olds have no interest in drinking

Research from the Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) indicated that 38% of 11-15 year olds had tried an alcoholic drink. When the report first recorded data in 1988, the figure was 62%.

The number of pupils who had drunk in the last week fell to 8%, a drop of two thirds since the 1996 peak of 25%.

4% of pupils said they drank in the last week, down from 20% in 2001.

“Reassuring news”

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association welcomed the news, citing the positive impact of the Challenge 25 and Community Alcohol Partnerships initiative.

“It is welcome and reassuring news that underage drinking trends are continuing downwards,” said Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

“The number of young people drinking is at its lowest levels since the late 1980s when this information was first collected.

“The investment by the drinks industry in initiatives like Challenge 25 and Community Alcohol Partnerships has helped to contribute to this trend and has helped to change the British culture around the acceptability of underage drinking.

“However, we must not – and will not – be complacent. While this is welcome progress, there is more to do. Our industry is committed to continued investment in measures that will maintain this trend in the future.”

Parental influence   

Drinkaware CEO Elaine Hindal also welcomed the findings, but added: “We are however concerned that the HSCIC findings published today show that 8% of young people say they drank alcohol in the last week. These underage drinkers say they are consuming on average almost 10 units a week, the equivalent of a bottle of wine.”

The organisation also published the results of its own survey, the Drinkaware Monitor, which looks at the drinking attitudes and behaviours of both young people and their parents. It found that disinterest in alcohol or matters of principle are the main reasons why young people choose not to drink.

Two thirds of non-drinkers (64%) say they are too young to drink, while more than half (55%) have no interest in drinking alcohol.

“Our own research shows a strong link between feeling isolated, unable to cope with problems or being pessimistic and underage drinking: almost two thirds (64%) of those with low mental wellbeing have had an alcoholic drink, compared with 28% of those with high mental wellbeing,” Hindal said.

“Parents also have a strong influence on whether a child drinks underage. The more permissive parents are towards alcohol and more they drink themselves, the more likely their children will be underage drinkers. Nearly two thirds (62%) of children whose parents drink to high risk levels drink underage compared to a third (34%) of those whose parents drink to lower risk levels.

“It’s never too early to talk to your children about the risks of underage drinking and to remind them that they will not be alone if they choose not to drink.”