The Drinkaware Trust (Drinkaware), the UK charity which aims to reduce alcohol harm, is encouraging the UK population to have their say on alcohol culture.
Entitled ‘Young People and Alcohol: What’s the Attraction?’ Drinkaware is using quick polls asking questions such as ‘Is getting drunk a right of passage?’ and ‘Should parents educate about alcohol?’ Everyone is invited to have their say.
England’s Chief Medical Officer recently advised that children aged under 15 should never be given alcohol and that 15 to 17 year olds should only consume alcohol with the guidance of a parent or carer. But what are the issues that trigger a young person to drink? From stress to peer pressure, celebrity to advertising, this comprehensive investigation will provide a snapshot of the UK today.
The polls feature on a Drinkaware microsite and will be publicised in The Guardian’s Family and Society print supplements and banner adverts on Drinkaware.co.uk and guardian.co.uk. Findings will be written up in SocietyGuardian and debated by a high profile panel convened to discuss what can be done to ensure the UK alcohol culture is a healthy one.
Drinkaware’s CEO, Chris Sorek said: “Alcohol is part of our national culture but according to the latest government figures, 360,000 11-15 year olds get drunk every week, putting themselves at risk of harm to the liver, depression and damage to the developing brain, as well as longer term problem drinking.
“There are also strong links between drinking high levels of alcohol and youth offending, teenage pregnancy, truancy and exclusion from school.”
He added: “By gleaning keys insights from public opinion, Drinkaware aims to discover what motivates young people to start drinking, binge drink, and what parents, professionals and young people can do to address and challenge those motivations. Now’s the time for the UK to have its say on this critical issue.”
The polls form part of Drinkaware’s public education programme which aims to change British drinking culture by engaging consumers with impactful information to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles.
Drinkaware