Half of 14-year-olds admit drinking alcohol

Almost half of 14-year-olds in South Tyneside admit to drinking alcohol at least once week, according to a new survey.
Over the course of a year, from autumn 2005, 1,177 pupils at seven secondary school took part in a health-related behavioural survey.

They were asked a wide range of health and lifestyle questions.

Twelve per cent said they had bought alcohol from an off-licence in the seven days before the survey, compared to just seven per cent nationwide.

A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: "The information will be used by schools to compare the health-related behaviours of young people in South Tyneside against national and local statistics in order to prioritise their focus and develop evidence-based schemes of work."

The results come as campaign group Alcohol Concern calls for parents, who give their children booze, to be prosecuted.

The group has made the recommendation in a bid to cut child drinking.

It wants parents who allow youngsters under 15 to drink to face legal action.

An Alcohol Concern spokesman said: "Currently it is legal to provide children as young as five with alcohol in a private home.

"Raising the age limit to 15 would send a stronger message to parents of the risks associated with letting very young people consume alcohol."

Graham Robb, chairman of the Youth Justice Board, was at Tedco in South Shields recently to witness a programme set up to tackle teenage booze addiction.

Mr Robb welcomed any debate which highlighted the issue of teenage alcohol abuse.

But he expressed reservation about any plans to "criminalise" parents.

He said: "I was very impressed with the project in South Shields, which is getting the message across through posters, community materials, radio and on the Metro, with youngsters themselves at the forefront.

"Debate on this issue is welcome, but I'm not sure criminalising parents is the way to go."

The health-related behavioural survey also found that on money matters, 74 per cent said they received up to £10 a week pocket money.

In the area of drugs, 27 per cent of Year 8 pupils and 59 per cent of Year 10 pupils were fairly sure they knew someone who was taking drugs.

And 13 per cent of those questioned admitting to smoking at least one cigarette a week.

The findings uncovered significant differences between South Tyneside pupils and a reference sample from other areas of the UK.

The Youth Justice Board is an executive non-departmental public body, and aims to prevent offending by children and young people.

Shields Gazette