Jail and alcoholism await teen tipplers

By the time teenage binge-drinkers reach the age of 30 they are much more likely to be in prison and/or developed alcoholism than their non-drinking peers. As figures continue to show a rise in teenage drinking, that is the stark warning issued by the Institute of Child Health (ICH).

The ICH looked at the habits of 11,000 teenagers back in 1986 and again when they reached 30 and their findings - published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health - make sobering reading. Those teens who indulged in binge-drinking are 60% more likely to be alcoholic than the average, 60% more likely to be homeless, almost twice as likely to have convictions or jail sentences and 40% more likely to use illegal drugs.

In addition they were also 40% more likely to suffer mental health problems, 40% more likely to have suffered accidents, 40% more likely to suffer mental health problems and almost four times as likely to have been excluded from school.

Binge-drinking was classified as having 'two or more episodes of consuming four or more drinks in a row in the previous two weeks' and affected almost a fifth of the study group.

Current NHS figures show that alcohol consumption among those 11-13-year-olds who drink has risen from an average of eight units a week to 12 among boys and from five to eight among girls.

A Department for Health spokesman said the Government was 'preventing the sale of alcohol to children by cracking down on irresponsible retailers and working with the industry to reduce underage sales of alcohol, while continuing to educate youngsters about the harm of alcohol abuse. Alcohol education now has a higher profile in schools across the country and is a major part of the national curriculum.'

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