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A new report shows a sharp drop in alcohol consumption among young people in all age groups over the past 15 years. Young people are less likely to drink and, if they drink, they do it later, drink less often and consume smaller amounts.
The report, published by Alcohol Research Group of the University of Sheffield, is part of a new project funded by the Wellcome Trust to examine and explain the decline in alcohol consumption among young people.
She analyzed data from surveys of smoking, alcohol and drug use conducted between 1988 and 2016 by young people in England and health surveys from 2001 to 2016 in England. Both are nationally representative surveys of youth in England and cover respondents aged eight to 24 years.
The report shows that in 2002, 61% of 11-15 year olds had already consumed a complete alcoholic beverage, but this proportion dropped to 44% in 2016. For the 8-12 age group, this proportion has increased by 25% at only 4%.
The proportion of 16-17 year olds who reported having used alcohol in the past 12 months increased from 88% in 2001 to 65% in 2016, while the proportion of drinkers aged 16 to 24 decreased from 90 percent to 78%.
Young people who drink start drinking until one year later. Between 2002 and 2016, the average age at which 16-17 year olds reported consuming their first alcoholic beverage went from 13.7 to 14.8, while the 11 to 15 age group increased from 11.6 at 12.3.
Research has shown that the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed by young people is also decreasing.
Among drinkers, the percentage of people aged 16 to 24 who consumed alcohol last week increased from 76% to 60% between 2002 and 2016, while the percentage of 11-15 year-olds dropped from 35%. % to 19%.
The proportion of people aged 16 to 17 who have exceeded the thresholds for excessive alcohol consumption during the past week has increased from 30% in 2002 to 6% in 2016.
Dr. Melissa Oldham, lead author of the report of the University of Sheffield's Alcohol Research Group, said: "The increase in the use of the Internet and online games may change the way young people spend their leisure time.
"Economic factors can also play a role, because concerns about rising tuition fees in universities and the cost of housing mean that young people feel that they have less income available to spend on alcohol." . "
In addition to the decline in alcohol consumption, smoking and illicit drug use also declined among 11 to 15 year olds.
The proportion of people who smoke has increased from 38% in 2002 to 17% in 2016 and the proportion of people who use cannabis has increased from 17% in 2002 to 11% in 2016.
Dr. John Holmes, who leads the University of Sheffield study on declining youth consumption, said, "These changes are important for public health.
"If this generation is also drinking less in adulthood, we may see a significant reduction in alcohol-related illnesses in the next 20 or 30 years."
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More information:
Melissa Oldham et al. Young people are drinking in decline www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_f… in_decline_FINAL.pdf
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