Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews

A Host of youngsters have confessed to their dependency on alcohol, despite not legally being old enough to drink.

We surveyed 60 boys and girls and found that 19 per cent admitted they were binge drinkers.

Others revealed they had given up boozing - after previously drinking heavily.

Worryingly, eight per cent of those asked also claimed to have had their drinks spiked while out in town.

Student Jorge Forde, 17, from Chaldon Way, Coulsdon, was one of those to admit to needing drink in his life.

He said: "I drink to get drunk. I like being drunk and feel depressed if I don't drink every day. I don't see much point in drinking if you don't get drunk at the end of it.

"I used to drink with a girl before we got together, but now mostly I go out with my friends. My girlfriend doesn't like me much when I am drunk. I'm not aggressive but I say some stupid things."

Jorge admits he will drink "anything in any combination" and spends about £30 a night binging.

He recalled: "The worst thing that ever happened was that I got so drunk that I didn't know where I was and couldn't get home.

"Another time, I was supposed to go to Amsterdam, but accidentally went into a pub before my flight. I woke up in Heathrow the next day and had missed my flight.

"I used to get into fights, but not so much any more. When people are drunk, they want something to do, and boys like fighting."

Jorge denies he is an alcoholic, but revealed that underage drinking is widespread in Croydon.

He said: "You see a lot of 12-year-olds drinking in Lloyd Park and only the supermarkets seem to check ID in Croydon.

"Drinking gives you a taste of adult life. When I was younger, drinking made me feel cool, and I enjoyed the challenge of getting served, especially because I look young."

Jobseeker Hannah Potter, 16, from Crewe Road, Wallington, admits she has no difficulty getting into Croydon's clubs and pubs.

She said: "I usually go to Medusa's and Walkabout. I'll often buy a bottle of whisky and take it in with me. ID isn't a problem if you're underage. You can always blag your way in, especially if you're a girl.

"I would say that I binge drink. I spend around £30 or £40 in a night. I usually drink at the weekend, but will get drunk in the week if there's nothing else to do."

Hannah admits that she gets into trouble when under the influence.

She said: "Drinking makes me louder and I get into fights. Once I got beaten up by two girls. They were drunk and so was I. It wouldn't have happened if we'd been sober. Afterwards, I went to a mate's house and carried on drinking.

"Another time one of my friends got drunk and decided to jump off the end of Brighton Pier. It was funny, but a bit scary.

"A lot of people my age drink because there's nothing else to do, but it can be dangerous. Often they can't handle it and pass out in bushes.

"Fights always happen, but I don't worry about things like that. I always go out in a big crowd and never walk home on my own."

Others just old enough to legally buy booze also told us that drinking vast amounts of alcohol was part of their everyday life.

Danielle Wright, 19, from Derwent Road, South Norwood, said: "When I binge drink, I usually puke and talk to strangers and do stupid drunk dancing. I've seen a lot of fights and once a girl fell right down the stairs in a club.

"It was never a problem getting served when I was younger and under age. Drinking a lot is fun to an extent, but you need to know your limits and go home when you've had enough."

Benita Edwards, 18, from Wilson Close, South Croydon, added: "When I do drink, I get absolutely wasted. Last weekend I went to Escapade in Croydon and then some Jamaican place in Stratford.

"I was drinking 20/20, Bacardi and Malibu. I'm feeling sick just talking about it. I probably spent about £150 to £200 if you count what I spent on weed. I should probably be ashamed of myself, but I'm young and having fun."

But others said there were a wide range of reasons for them not binge drinking, from fearing throwing up to seeing friends' grades slip at school because of booze.

One said he had been put off after seeing his uncle hospitalised three times for alcohol poisoning while another teenager said she wouldn't drink because her nan died from the effects of alcohol.

Student Leanne Russell, 17, from Cromer Road, South Norwood, was among those who didn't approve of binge drinking.

She said: "I think that drinking makes people more vulnerable because it means that they're not in control. Going into Croydon at night is threatening and I would-n't walk through town on my own.

"Some of my friends do go out every week and drink incessantly. They end up getting into arguments. Drinking causes conflicts and encourages you to respond irrationally to situations.

"The last time that I went out was for a Christmas party and I didn't get drunk. I would say that I was a sensible drinker, but my parents are protective. They wouldn't be too happy if they found out that I had been drunk. Parents need to set standards.

"I suppose that there is a lot of peer pressure. If you see everyone having fun, you start to think, 'why not?' But it's not for me at the moment. I'm concentrating on my studies."

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