Alcohol use amongst children is rooted in complex societal issues, says DCSF report

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have released a comprehensive report; 'Use of alcohol among Children and Young People', and a summarising research brief, both available here. The full 373 page report explores influences and barriers to young people's involvement with alcohol and factors influencing various attitudes. The project also examined the role of current advertising and communication campaigns in the choices of children and young people whilst aiming to inform the design of interventions to young people and parents.

An overview of findings highlighted in the research brief include:

• For most children and young people (CYP), a high level of dissociation from problems alongside the high level of enjoyment from drinking itself, means communication and information about under-age drinking is of low/very low interest. However there is a role for communications and information aimed at CYP, but impact is likely to be limited without supporting work
• Parents and carers (PCs) are a critical audience. PCs do not have a sufficient understanding of the negative impacts of CYP's drinking and related issues. PCs also facilitate and often encourage CYP's drinking
• To engage effectively CYP with communications, targeted information needs to be supported by a broader re-framing of alcohol within society

A summary of findings examined a range of key issues including:

• Personal disassociation and defence against under-age drinking and associated harms, which was 'easy' and 'natural' to both CYP and PCs. A range of myths were used to enable a disassociated position including:
  • A widespread view that alcohol is 'not really a drug'
  • A perception of graduated ‘manageability’ of alcohol (as one grows in experience
  • A belief that 'you learn by your own mistakes'; both PCs and CYP
    assume drinking in this way leads to control being gained, and that getting drunk is a 'right of passage'
  • 'I am not at risk': The overall perception of control generated by the above myths gives rise to this specific belief and the worst that can happen is vomiting or embarrassment
  • A fear that 'over-parenting' is a problem in itself and therefore CPs do not have a role to play

The brief  further explores the implications of the complex and underlying issues associated with alcohol use by CYP and the roles of CPs. It summarises that the research indicates that 'the audience in England suspects – but doesn’t want to believe – that alcohol is a drug-like substance' which creates a complex challenge in order to deliver successful interventions. Multi-faceted strategies must therefore communicate messages at a broad over-arching level to prevent dis-association, whilst targeted and specialised interventions are needed to effect various sub-groups.

Comments

[michael]

There is a Chinese herb called Kudzu, available in tablet form from good health food shops, which can cut the craving for alcohol by 90%. People who abuse alcohol need to know that all the vitamin B1 in your body is elliminated and thus could be dangerous.