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Consultation on Children, Young People and Alcohol
This contains documents and information relating to the consultation which runs for 12 weeks from 29 January 2009 until 23 April 2009.
DCSF has the policy-lead across Government for young people and alcohol, aiming to reduce the level of alcohol consumption and the harms associated with drinking amongst under-18s, as set out in the Youth Alcohol Action Plan (June 2008) and the PSA 14 indicator on substance misuse by young people.
Young people were introduced as a priority in the updated Alcohol Strategy: Safe. Sensible. Social. The Government has strengthened its focus on this by publishing a Youth Alcohol Action Plan, in response to rising levels of alcohol unit consumption amongst young people who drink, and concerns relating to anti-social behaviour and crime.
The Youth Alcohol Action Plan seeks to:
- establish a national consensus on young people and drinking
- create a new offence of persistent possession of alcohol in a public place by a young person (under 18)
- work with the chief medical officer to develop a set of guidelines regarding young people and alcohol
- develop a communications campaign for parents and young people
- work with the alcohol industry to continue to reduce underage sales
- reduce the level of alcohol consumption by those young people who do drink (National Indicator 115).
Key data:
- 46% of young people (aged 11-15) in 2007 have never had an alcoholic drink; a 7% increase compared with 2001.*
- 15% of young people (aged 11-15) in 2007 drink at least once a week; 5% less than in 2001.*
- The average number of units of alcohol consumed by 11- to 15-year-olds doubled between 1990 and 2000, and remains high.
- England has among the highest level of teenage drinking and drunkenness when compared with other European countries.**
- Alcohol misuse is linked to poor outcomes for the individual, such as health problems, and the wider community in terms of anti-social behaviour and crime.
- Central Government funding to support local areas in delivery of reducing substance misuse by young people is £55m per year until 2010-11.
* Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use by Young People in England 2007
** HBSC Study 2005-06
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as a Word Document
Last updated on 27/04/2009
