News
Survey reveals Scottish teenagers' drinking habits
20/12/2011
The latest Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use (SALSUS) National Report shows smoking, drinking and drug use among 13 and 15 year olds in Scotland in 2010.
Key findings include:
Key findings include:
- 44% of 13 year olds and 77% of 15 year olds have ever had an alcoholic drink (compared with 52% in 2008 for 13 year olds, and 82% in 2008 for 15 year olds)
- Increase in the proportion of pupils who had drunk in the last week from 11% in 2008 to 14% in 2010 among 13 year olds and from 31% in 2008 to 34% in 2010 among 15 year olds.
- Longer term trends – The proportion of pupils drinking in the week before the survey increased between 1990 and 2002, then there was a steady decline until 2008. However, in 2010 this trend has ended and consumption has slightly increased.
- Most commonly consumed drinks among both age groups were beer, lager, cider, spirits and alcopops.
- 54% of 13 year olds who have ever had alcohol report having been drunk at least once, compared with 76% of 15 year old.
- Sources of purchased alcohol have changed considerably over time, with friends/relatives by far the most common source.
- Since 2008, there has been a decrease in the proportion of both age groups usually drinking outside.
Dr Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:
“The number of young teenagers regularly drinking is concerning not only because of the potential damage to their health, but because of the risky situations they put themselves in when drunk.
“Young people are growing up in a world where cheap alcohol is so widely available. A young person receiving the average British pocket money of £5.89 can buy 8 litres of cider containing almost 34 units of alcohol – more than enough alcohol to kill them. That’s why minimum pricing is so important.
“The alcohol industry spends hundreds of millions of pounds every year pushing their products at young people and devising ever more creative marketing tactics to encourage them to take up drinking. If we want to protect young people from alcohol harm then we need to consider more regulatory measures to reduce their exposure to alcohol marketing.”