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Alcohol and young people
The Teenage Lifestyle Survey shows that alcohol consumption by young people aged 11 to 15 years is of concern. In the week before the survey, 26% had had at least one alcoholic drink, but percentages were highest in the Year 10 subgroup, where 48% of girls (compared to 43% in the national reference sample) and 42% of boys reported this. Of greater concern, 25% of girls and 16% of boys in Year 10 reported getting drunk on at least one day in the preceding week.
As part of the analysis of the Teenage Lifestyle Survey, Year 10 girls identified as a group of concern, particularly the links between alcohol use and low self esteem. For more information see the Topic Report: Teenage Lifestyle Survey - Key findings for Year 10 girls7.
The number of under 16s admitted to hospital as a result of drinking alcohol has trebled, from 9 in 2002 to 30 in 2006. Girls are of particular concern, with admissions of under 16s rising from an average of 4 a year between 2002 and 2004 to 19 in 2006.
For more information from the Teenage Lifestyle Survey 2006 please see the Research Team pages.