Most underage drinkers buy alcohol in pubs

MORE THAN half underage drinkers typically buy alcohol themselves in a pub, according to a survey.

The study, carried out among post-primary students, found binge drinking and illegal drug use had jumped since 1997.

The research revealed that while the prevalence of cigarette smoking had fallen, the drop was smallest among adolescent females.

The survey, carried out in the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB), said between 1997 and 2002:

Regular alcohol consumption fell, from 57% to 54%.

Getting drunk more than 10 times increased from 24% to 27%.

Lifetime cigarette smoking fell from 57% to 51%.

Regular cigarette smoking dropped from 31% to 18%.

Lifetime illegal drug use jumped from 35% to 41%.

Regular drug use increased from 12% to 15%.

“This study highlights that while fewer young people in the region are regularly smoking, regular alcohol consumption continues to remain high and is the main drug of misuse within the adolescent population,” said NEHB’s public health department and study co-author Declan Bedford.

“In particular, binge drinking at weekends is a problem that has intensified since 1997.”

The survey found more than a fifth of students were drinking more than 10 drinks a week, with no differences between males and females. The number of students drinking more than 10 drinks on a Saturday night doubled from 3.5% in 1997 to 6.9% in 2002.

“The high levels of regular drinking on a weekly basis by adolescents clearly highlight how serious the problem of alcohol consumption is in the region,” said Mr Bedford.

Half of respondents said they bought alcohol themselves in a pub. This broke down to 80% of those aged 16 to 18 and 28% of those aged less than 16.

“Despite being under the legal age requirement, it appears that young people have little difficulty sourcing alcohol themselves,” the report said.

The survey, published in the Irish Medical Journal, noted substantial decreases in lifetime and regular cigarette smoking since 1997.

It found while 16% of males smoked regularly, this increased to 22% among females. There was a significant increase in lifetime use of illegal drugs.