Alcohol Concern as NHS statistics show children’s drinking has doubled since 1990
Statistics released by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre today revealed:
• A slight decrease on last year in the number of 11-15s who have tried alcohol – this is a continuing trend since 1988
• However, among those young people who do drink (having had alcohol in the past week)
1. Mean consumption was 5.3 units in 1990, rising to 9.2 units in 2007. This figure was revised upwards in 2007 to 12.7, when a new method was used to calculate consumption. The current level of consumption is 14.6 units (2008).
2. Children’s drinking levels have certainly near-doubled since 1990
3. They have increased by 1.9 units between 2007 and 2008 alone.
Commenting, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Don Shenker said:
“Today’s figures are very worrying. We’ve seeing a slight decline in the number of children who drink, but those who do drink are drinking much more.
“Too many young people are now drinking at or above safe adult levels, yet their bodies are less able to cope with the harm alcohol can cause.
“We’ve already seen an almost one thousand per cent increase in liver cirrhosis deaths in the 25-44 age group. This is impacting our health services and the lives of families across the UK.
“Time and time again we hear from families that alcohol is too cheap and too easy for young people to get hold of. If the Government really wants to tackle alcohol misuse in this country, then it needs to get tough and follow the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendations for a minimum price for alcohol.
Alcohol Concern