Young people in UK ‘drinking alcohol to cope’

A recent survey has revealed that young people are drinking alcohol to cope with life pressures, prompting charity Drinkaware to urge parents to have open discussions with their children.

Parents in the UK have been encouraged to have open conversations with their children about alcohol

According to an Ipsos MORI survey of young people and their parents’ drinking attitudes, 44% of 10 to 17-year-olds have ever had an alcoholic drink say they drink to cheer themselves up, feel less depressed or anxious or forget about their problems.

Two fifths (40%) of young people who drink for these reasons drink at least once a week, which is more than twice the national average (19%) for their age.

Meanwhile, The Drinkaware Monitor shows that more than half (53%) of young people with low mental wellbeing have had an alcoholic drink, compared with 36% of those with high mental wellbeing

As such, Drinkaware is encouraging parents to talk to their children about alcohol as anxiety and depression can increase over the festive period.

“At this time of year, when alcohol is more prevalent young people may feel more pressure to drink,” said Elaine Hindal, chief executive of Drinkaware. “Many of us think our children hardly listen to a word we say, but we want to remind parents that they are actually the main source of information about alcohol for their children.

“It’s never too early to talk to your children about the risks of underage drinking which is why we are encouraging parents to have the ‘alcohol chat’ and to remind young people that they will not be alone if they choose not to drink.”

Latest figures have depicted an “encouraging downward trend” in underage drinking in the UK, with the number of 11-15 year olds who have drunk a whole alcoholic drink at least once dropping to 38% in 2014 from 61% in 2003.