Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSUnderage drinking worst in North East
A study of underage drinking habits in England has found wide-ranging differences in the amount of alcohol consumed by 11-15 year-olds depending on where they live.
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Children in the North East topped the underage drinking poll, consuming 17.7 units a week - the equivalent of nearly two bottles of wine - while those in London drink the least at only 11.3 units a week.
The North East fared badly overall in the study which also found that 63% of all 11-15 year-olds quizzed admitted they had drunk alcohol in the past. Children in the North East are also more likely to both smoke and drink than those in any other region.
Tim Straughan, chief executive of the NHS Information Centre, which published the findings, said: “The report shows there are significant regional differences in the percentages of young people who smoke, drink or use drugs.
“It is interesting to note that London has such comparatively low levels of drink, drug and alcohol use among its 11- to 15-year-olds.”
Levels of alcohol consumption appeared to rise gradually from the south to the north of the country, with boys consuming more on average per week (20.2 units) than girls (15.5 units).
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