National

  • Drinkline: 24-hour alcohol helpline offering confidential advice and information. Free 0800 917 8282
  • Alcohol Concern. www.alcoholconcern.org.uk. 020 7395 4000
  • Alcoholic's Anonymous: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk. 0845 7697 555
  • The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA): Help and support for children whose parents misuse alcohol. www.nacoa.org.uk. 0800 358 3456.
  • Emergency Contraception Helpline: Confidential sexual health advice and services. 0800 318 4406 or 0800 49 48 47
  • ChildLine: Free helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger. 0800 1111.
  • Samaritans: 24-hour confidential emotional support for those experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including suicide. 08457 90 90 90.
  • Advice on young people and alcohol: www.wrecked.co.uk.
  • Information on health for teachers and learners from the Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills: www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk.

Local

  • Parent Support Link: Confidential support for families and individuals affected by alcohol or drug use. www.parentsupportlink.org.uk. 023 8039 9764
  • No Limits: Information, advice and counselling for 13 to 25-year-olds. 023 8023 6237.
  • E's Up: NHS adolescent substance misuse service. Healthcare assessment, treatment, detoxification, counselling and support groups. 023 8022 3891.
  • Options: Alcohol and drug counselling and information service for adults. 023 8063 0219 or free 0800 0814309.
  • New Road Centre: Assessment, treatment, advice and information for people with drug and/or alcohol problems. 023 8071 7171.
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  • Two Saints Ltd: Treatment and day centres. 023 8022 6335
  • Society of St. James: Help for those vulnerable to homelessness and substance misuse. 023 8063 4596.
  • Rainbow Project: Accommodation and support for 16 to 25-year-olds. 023 8022 3525.
  • Your GP and NHS walk-in centres.

Underage Drinking. The Facts.

How many?

  • One in five pupils, aged 11 to 15, have consumed alcohol in the past week.
  • Almost half of 15-year-olds have had a drink in the past week compared to three cent of 11-year-olds.
  • Seventeen per cent usually drink alcohol at least once a week.
  • One per cent of both boys and girls drink almost every day.

  • How much?

  • Average weekly consumption by pupils is 10.5 units. It was 5.3 units in 1990.
  • Boys who drunk alcohol in the past week downed an average of 11.5 units compared with an average of 9.5 units by girls.

  • What do they drink?

  • Beer, lager and cider are most popular with boys.
  • Girls drink mainly spirits and alcopops.

    How they obtain alcohol?

  • Half of alcohol drunk by pupils in the past month came form parents and the home.
  • Almost one third were given alcohol by friends and one in five pupils asked someone else to buy it.
  • Only one in ten pupils try to buy it themselves from a shop, pub, bar or club.

  • Where they drink?

  • 60 per cent of pupils who drink do so at home or at someone else's home.
  • One third drink at parties with friends.
  • One quarter drink on the streets or in parks.

  • The consequences?

  • Almost half who consumed alcohol in the past week got drunk. One third deliberately tried.
  • Girls who had consumed alcohol in the past week were more likely than boys to have felt ill or sick or to have vomited. (One in five girls compared to one in ten boys).
  • About one in ten boys had a fight.
  • A similar number either lost money or belongings or damaged clothes or belongings.

Source: Drug Use, Smoking, Drinking among Young People, England, an annual survey of 9,000 secondary school pupils.

Office of National Statistics for NHS and The Information Centre for health and social care.