A new study into young people, alcohol and influences has been published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The report explores the key influences on young people's drinking patterns and experiences of drunkenness.
A JRF press release states that "family and friends have a strong influence on teenagers’ drinking patterns, and are stronger influences than some other factors – such as individual well-being, celebrity figures and the media." The report shows that the odds of a teenager repeatedly getting drunk are twice as likely if they have seen their parents drunk.
Key findings include:
- The most common age for a first drink was 12 to 13; usually when with an adult and celebrating a special occasion.
- 70% of Year 9 students and 89% of Year 11 students have had an alcoholic drink. Regular drinking is significantly lower amongst Year 9 than Year 11 students.
- Year 9 students are most likely to have been drinking alcopops, beer or lager. By Year 11, students are most likely to drink beer, lager, spirits or liqueurs. In both year groups, those drinking beer and lager are consuming much larger quantities of these drinks than any other type of drink.
A comment in the Guardian suggested the findings show that parents must accept greater responsibilty for the influences of their own drinking, the author reflecting she may have "role-modelled alcohol as a coping strategy from my daughter's earliest times." See reports from the BBC and the Mirror.
Drinkaware, the industry funded alcohol awareness organisation, has a web-page for parents. See here for a recent LMJU study on parent's perceptions of their children's drinking and other links, including the CMO guidance.
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