UK is the worst country for 11 and 13 yr old child alcohol consumption, WHO report claims
Fresh Balance has responded to a new report from the World Health Organisation which suggests the UK is the worst country when it comes to child alcohol use among 11 and 13 year olds.
In one of the largest studies of its kind, the World Health Organisation (WHO) analysed data from 280,000 children aged 11, 13 and 15 from 44 countries who were asked about their use of cigarettes, vapes and alcohol. The United Kingdom (England) reported the highest prevalence for 11-year-olds (35% for boys and 34% for girls) and 13-year-olds (50% boys and 57% girls)
Susan Taylor, Head of Alcohol Policy for Balance, said: “These findings are extremely worrying, and especially the levels of 11- and 13-year-olds who report drinking alcohol – especially as we see alcohol deaths among adults rising. Children’s bodies and brains are still developing well into the teenage years and beyond and there is clear evidence that alcohol brings real risks into their lives.
“Chief Medical Officer guidance is clear that an alcohol-free childhood is the safest and healthiest option, and children should not drink any alcohol before age 15. The earlier people start to drink alcohol, the more likely they are to develop alcohol-related problems later in life, which can include cancer, heart disease and mental health problems.
“We know that exposure to alcohol advertising leads children to begin drinking at an earlier age and in greater quantities. With alcohol adverts littered in bus stops near schools, across TV, sports and music videos way before 9pm, and on websites and social media, there is little escape for anyone from alcohol marketing.”
She added: “Equally worrying is the fact that most alcohol drunk by children comes from the family home and Balance is working to raise parents’ awareness of these risks and the positive role they can play through our What’s the Harm campaign. Provision of alcohol to children undermines important age of sale laws which are there to protect both children and local communities.
“Our children have the right to grow up and live in a safe and healthy environment that is free from alcohol harm, and there is strong public support among North East adults to protect children from alcohol marketing. Restrictions have been introduced by governments for other harmful products like cigarettes and we urgently need alcohol – which is also a group one carcinogen- to be treated just as seriously”.
The research also showed that smoking among children is much less common than it used to be – one in five 15-year-old girls said they had ever smoked a cigarette – but smoking rates are still higher among girls than boys in England and Wales. It also found that 26% of boys and 40% of girls have tried using a vape by age 15.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “The findings support research which shows that tobacco smoking rates are falling among children and young people as a result of widespread action on smoking – from awareness campaigns, to price rises, to raising the age of sale and to putting tobacco out of sight in shops.
“It is important that measures to restrict the appeal and availability of vapes to children are taken but ensuring they remain available for adult smokers wishing to switch given they are significantly less harmful and can help you to stop smoking.
“Alcohol like tobacco causes cancer and at a time when alcohol deaths and hospital admissions are rising, it is clear we as a nation need to stop burying heads in the sand when it comes to alcohol harm. Children need to be protected from alcohol promotion and marketing and it’s vital that attention is given to this given the scale of known harm”.
Balance the North East based alcohol programme has set up the “What’s the Harm?” campaign aimed at giving parents the facts and risks of children drinking alcohol to counter the myths of “drinking responsibly” put out by the alcohol industry.