Schoolchildren ‘drinking more’

Although the number of school pupils who drink alcohol has fallen, those that do are drinking more than in previous years, a new study has found.

The Information Centre, which conducted the research, said that the number of pupils who said they had never drunk alcohol rose from 39 per cent in 2003 to 45 per cent in 2006.

But of the one in five 11 to 15-year-olds who said they drink alcohol, half consume an average of more than four units each time they drink.

Average weekly consumption of alcohol among those who drink has risen from 10.4 units in 2000 to 11.4 units in 2006.

Younger people have raised the biggest cause for concern, as alcohol drinkers between 11 and 13 have increased their average consumption from 5.6 units in 2001 to 10.1 units in 2006.

And one in five secondary schoolchildren said they had been drunk during the last month.

Drug use by schoolchildren appears to be falling and the number of youngsters offered drugs has also been reduced.

Tim Straughan, acting chief executive for The Information Centre, said the study shows that more schoolchildren are “choosing a cleaner lifestyle”.

“This is good news for the health of young people, however the figures also reveal that drinking, drugs and smoking continue to play an important role in the lives of a significant number of young people and that there may be links between these behaviours and truancy rates,” he added.