Britain blighted by binge drinking teens

Last Modified: 28 Mar 2008
Source: ITN

Binge drinking is part of everyday life for many British teenagers who often become violent as a result, a study has revealed.

A study of almost 10,000 teens in the North West showed 84 per cent drink on average 44 bottles of wine or 177 pints of beer a year each while 42 per cent of boys and 40 per cent of girls become violent as a result.

As many as 40 per cent of teenagers in poor areas binge drink while just under half of those surveyed drank at least once a week, the survey found. Poor children are 45 per cent more likely to be violent after drinking than children in affluent areas, it said.

The report, produced by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, Trading Standards North West and the Home Office, also showed many have five or more drinks in one session.

Professor Mark Bellis, co-author of the report and director of the Centre for Public Health, said: "These figures highlight the sheer quantity of alcohol being consumed by under-age drinkers across the North West.

"Sadly, there is still practically no information publicly available on what is a safe amount of alcohol for children to consume or on how parents can best moderate their children's drinking.

"Without a clear message that under-age drunkenness will not be tolerated, we will continue to see the high levels of alcohol bingeing and related violence identified in this study.

"All too often such bingeing and violence not only damages children's lives but also results in whole communities feeling threatened by gangs of drunk teenagers."

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