Alcohol and young people
What are the risks?
Alcohol affects young people differently to adults and alcohol misuse is more dangerous for young people affecting both their health and behaviour.
Health risks
Because young people’s bodies are still growing, alcohol can interfere with their development. This makes young people particularly vulnerable to the long-term damage caused by alcohol. This damage can include:
- cancer of the mouth and throat
- sexual and mental health problems
- liver cirrhosis and heart disease
Research also suggests that drinking alcohol in adolescence can affect brain development too.
Whilst young people may think their drinking won’t affect them for years yet so it’s not worth worrying about, it actually doesn’t take long for the effects of drinking to be felt. There has been a sharp increase in the number of people in their twenties dying from liver disease because they drank heavily in their teens. And young people who drink are much more likely to be involved in an accident and end up in hospital.
Risky behaviour – sex
One in five girls aged 14 to 15 goes further than they wanted to in a sexual experience after drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol lowers inhibitions, and makes people more likely to do things they wouldn’t normally do. And with young people testing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, as they do at that stage in their life, loss of inhibitions poses a particular risk.
Unsafe sex and unwanted pregnancy
If young people drink alcohol, they are more likely to take risks and not use contraception when they have sex. Almost one in ten boys and around one in eight girls aged 15 to 16 have unsafe sex after drinking alcohol. This puts them at risk of sexual infections and unwanted pregnancy.
Research shows that a girl who drinks alcohol is more than twice as likely to have an unwanted pregnancy as a girl who doesn’t drink.
Antisocial behaviour
Alcohol interferes with the way people think, and their judgement. It makes them far more likely to act carelessly. When young people drink alcohol, they are more likely to end up in dangerous situations such as climbing on walls and then falling off, verbally abusing someone who may hit them, or becoming aggressive and starting a fight.
Research also shows four out of ten secondary school-age pupils have been involved in some form of violence because of alcohol, including, for example, they have been beaten up or robbed after they’ve been drinking, or have assaulted someone themselves.
Getting into trouble with the police
Every year, more than 10,000 fines for being drunk and disorderly are issued to young people aged 16 to 19. Children as young as 12 are being charged with criminal damage to other people’s property as a result of drinking.
Young people who get drunk at least once a month are twice as likely to commit a criminal offence as those who don’t. More than one in three teenagers who drink alcohol at least once a week have committed violent offences such as robbery or assault.
Young people who get involved with crime are also likely to end up with a criminal record. Getting into trouble with the police can lead to a criminal record which can damage their prospects for the rest of their life. It can stop them getting certain jobs, travelling abroad to certain countries, and it can even effect how much car insurance they pay!
Failing to meet potential at school
When young people drink, it takes longer for the alcohol to get out of their system than it does in adults. So if young people drink alcohol on a night before school, then it can affect their attention and ability next day in class.
Young people who regularly drink alcohol are twice as likely to miss school and get poor grades than those who don’t. Almost half of young people excluded from school are regular drinkers.
Encouraging sensible drinking
Sensible drinking - guidance from England's Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
Parents and carers are advised that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if young people do drink alcohol, the CMO has issued the following guidance:
- young people should not drink at all until they are at least 15 years old
- if young people aged 15 to 17 years drink alcohol, it should always be under the supervision of a parent or carer
- if 15 to 17 year olds do drink, it should not be often – certainly no more than one day a week
- 15 to 17 year olds should never drink more than the recommended daily limit for adults
Recommended daily limits
Government health experts recommend that the daily recommended limits for adults are also followed by young people if they drink. However, because young people take longer to process alcohol, it is better if they drink less, or do not drink at all. Advice for young people under 15 is that they should not drink.
Encouraging a healthy attitude towards alcohol
As children grow up, their attitude towards alcohol is largely influenced by what they see, hear and experience at home. The following tips have been designed to help parents in guiding their children to develop a healthy attitude to alcohol.
- if your child is curious about alcohol, talk to them about it - tell them about both the negative and social sides of drinking
- make sure children don't drink alcohol by accident or without your permission - if you have alcohol at home, keep it out of reach
- if you drink, set a good example and drink in moderation - it will help your child develop a sensible attitude to alcohol
- respect the law regarding young people and alcohol - don't buy alcohol for your child if they are underage
For parents of older children
It's difficult to know when to let teenagers drink as there is no 'right' age. If your child has started drinking, however, these tips are designed to help them learn to drink safely:
- set clear boundaries for your child and be consistent about them
- encourage your child to stick to lower-strength brands and not to drink too quickly
- try not to overreact if your child drinks against your wishes, or drinks too much
- if your child has drunk excessively, explain how you feel and encourage them to talk about why it happened
- agree rules on alcohol at parties and be around if your child has a party at home
- if your child is going to drink, give them starchy food (like bread or pasta) so they won't be drinking on an empty stomach
- remove temptations at home like your own stock of drink (especially spirits)
- make sure your child has a way of getting home safely at night
What children learn about alcohol at school
Alcohol education takes place in all schools alongside drugs education. Pupils are given accurate information about alcohol at their school to help provide them with the skills they need to make safe and responsible choices.