UNDERAGE DRINKING RESEARCH
FINDINGS
This report is a result of a survey conducted during Operation Relentless in Yeovil town centre on
Saturday 8th July. Members of the Mendip and South Somerset Community Safety Partnership
worked in conjunction with Avon and Somerset Police and PCSO’s to question drinkers on the night
about their underage drinking habits. Respondents were interviewed in the street and while
queuing to gain entry to various nightclubs. The findings draw on a sample of 103 people who were
asked about their drinking behaviour.
KEY POINTS
A third of respondents had started drinking alcohol aged 15.
Spirits (24%) and Alcopops (26%) were the main alcoholic drinks of choice.
35% of underage drinkers saw it as means of fitting in with peers and 33% drank simply to
get drunk.
58% of those questioned got drunk once a week while underage.
Under 18’s cannot legally purchase alcohol but 92% admitted to buying their own drinks
either from shops or in public houses and nightclubs.
42% of under age drinkers reported that they had obtained alcohol from their parents with
parental consent.
60% of respondents stated that if activities had been available they would have joined
these in preference to drinking.
All of those questioned had experienced negative effects of drinking. The main ones being
vomiting (27%) and hangovers (25%)
Key locations for drinking/getting drunk were licensed premises (37%) and in parks/public
areas or on the street (21%).
Prevalence of Underage drinking
On the night of the survey, 103 people were
questioned. 62% of respondents were female, 27% Under Age Range
male and 11% unknown.
33
35
Two thirds were residents of Yeovil, and of the 30
remaining third only 4 were from outside the South 24
25 21
Somerset area – Newcastle, Bradford, Wells and
20
Dorset. All of those questioned had drunk alcohol 14
15
whilst under the legal age limit.
10 5
4
2
The graph to the right shows the breakdown of ages 5
at which respondents had started drinking alcohol. 0
55% were aged 15-16 years. This differs from the
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Home Office Underage Drinking Survey (2004)
where the figure was highest for 16-17 year olds
(88%).
Frequency of drinking/getting drunk was also measured. 63% stated that they drank once a week, 22% twice a
week, 10% three times a week and 5% four or more times a week.
Jo Calvert
Partnership Research Officer
Joanne.calvert@southsomerset.gov.uk
Sources of Alcohol
The questionnaire asked people where they had obtained their alcohol. 92% had purchased alcohol themselves, 54%
had bought from a bar/club and 38% from a shop, 33% had got their alcohol from someone who had bought on
their behalf from a shop, 22% had alcohol bought for them in a bar or a club. 28% had taken alcohol from home
with parental permission and 19% without permission.
14% of respondents stated that their parents had provided them with alcohol and 4% by other means – free at
parties or bought by friends or older siblings.
In total 42% of respondents received alcohol from their parents, this figure differs slightly from the 2004 CJS were
23% received alcohol in this way.
Drinking Locations
Among those surveyed, most drank either at their home (52% - 25% of which was with parental supervision)
or a friend’s house (69% - 26% with parental supervision). 64% had consumed alcohol in a club, 42% in a
nightclub and 36% had drunk alcohol outdoors in a park/public area and 25% in the street.
Preferred Drinks
Alcopops (26%) and spirits (24%) were the drinks of choice for both male and female underage drinkers. 17%
chose lager as their drink, 14% drank cider, 13% wine and 6% beer. Amounts consumed varied greatly. Those
choosing Alcopops tended to binge drink on these (5 or more in one session).
A recent study by the Portman group suggests that compared with non-consumers of Alcopops, Alcopop
consumers were younger (typically around 12 years old) when they first started drinking alcohol.
An established control on young peoples drinking has been that they find traditional drinks unpalatable. Adding
alcohol to a ‘soft’ drink definitely targets the young market. 57% stated that as an under age drinker, on
average they spent £0-10 on alcohol, 19% spent £11-20 and 12% spent £21-30 or £31-40.
Alternative Activities
Alternate Activities
People questioned were asked if alternate activities had
been available would they have joined in instead of
going drinking? 15 13
Of the 103 respondents 60% stated that they would. 29
people made suggestions as to what activities would 10 7
have interested them. These can be seen right. 5
4
2
1 1 1
Specific suggested sports included hockey, netball, 0
football, rock climbing, sailing and surfing. Two people
said they would have welcomed any activities, as there Anything Dancing Girlguides
was literally nothing for young people to do in a small Gym. Work Social Club Sports
rural village. Dancing was a requested activity or even Drank after activities
an under 18’s disco. A social or youth club was another
common request.
Reasons for Drinking
The most frequently cited motivation for drinking/getting drunk was related to social acceptance – 20% did it to
fit in with friends, 15% believed it increased their confidence, 11% believed it was a cool thing to do and 8%
thought it made them look older. 19% drank with one objective in mind – to get drunk, 7% saw it as a means
of escape and 11% said there was nothing else for them to do at that age. Getting drunk was widely seen as
normal and acceptable.
Jo Calvert
Partnership Research Officer
Joanne.calvert@southsomerset.gov.uk
Young people reported the important influence of friends, ranging from actual peer pressure to the less overt,
although more common, 'peer guidance'. They also reported the respect and image associated with getting
drunk as a motivating factor. 9% gave other reasons. These included – to socialise with friends, because it was
fun or they simply enjoyed it or, to relax.
Outcomes from Drinking
Results of Excessive Drinking
Respondents were asked what negative outcomes
they had experienced as a result of excessive 69
70 Overdose
drinking. The actual responses are shown in the 62
Unplanned Sex
graph – this was a multiple answer question. 60
Hangover
50
The low number of violent incidents pleasantly Pregnancy
40
surprised me but may also reflect the gender split 33 Vomiting
of respondents. The number of pregnancies 30 27
Weight Gain
21
resulting from drunkenness was quite alarming – 8 20 15
14 Fighting
out of a sample of 103 but links in with the 27 8
10
incidents of unplanned/unsafe sex. 4 Missed w ork/school
0 ASB
Most young people were clear that these incidents
would not have happened had they been sober.
A large majority reported feeling at least some ill effects of being drunk, in terms of hangover or nausea. Some
commented on how being sick was an additional inevitable outcome of drinking. Of more serious concern, a
minor proportion of the sample reported some experience of severe intoxication, alcohol poisoning or overdose.
Respondents were asked whether they had been in trouble with the police as a result of drinking/getting drunk.
9 people had – reasons included being drunk and disorderly, fighting (this person received a caution), being
noisy (receiving a warning), a girl was taken home very drunk and a male was cautioned for urinating in the
street.
Advice Providers
Finally, people were asked who would have been the person they most likely would have taken notice of
regarding advice on drinking safely? 58 respondents answered this question. Of these, 25 said parents, 9 said
the police, 8 said friends, 6 older siblings, 4 no one, 3 other family members, 2 a role model and 1 a partner.
In total 59% chose family members as the
persons who would have had most influence on Advice
the provision of safe drinking advice.
Current Drinking Activity 60
45
40 29 25
91 people completed the second section of the
survey relating to their current drinking activity. 20
4 4 2
10
1
The results that can be seen in the graph are
0
responses to the question; has anyone ever
spoken to you about safe drinking. Only 50% of
Parent Teacher Family Health Worker
parents had.
Youth Worker Friends Internet No-one
Looking at previous answers in the survey these
are the people most respondents would take notice of and clearly the most influential in a young persons
decision-making processes.
In a report published by the Portman group – more frequent parental discouragement to drink was related to
less frequent drinking by boys, but for girls such parental discouragement led to more frequent drinking. This
may suggest a tendency for girls to rebel more strongly against such parental attitudes, which they may
perceive as more ‘excessive’ than those for boys.
Jo Calvert
Partnership Research Officer
Joanne.calvert@southsomerset.gov.uk
These findings possibly highlight the need for addressing personal; family, peer and school conduct factors in
school – based alcohol education programmes. In view of the relatively early age of alcohol initiation in the UK
the author of the report recommended educational approaches based on harm minimization. In particular they
stress the role of parents and adult supervision in such interventions aiming to reduce under age drinking.
Of those surveyed 48% believed they now drank more than they did under age, 37% thought they drank less
and the remaining 15% drank the same. 10 people were concerned by there current drinking habits.
Respondents were asked whom they would speak to now for help and advice about drinking. 40% said their
parents, 25% other family members, 10% health workers, 10% friends and the remaining 15% included tutors,
police, youth workers and help lines.
People were also asked what would have been the best advice they could have received about drinking safely.
47 people responded to this question. The most frequent responses included – moderation is the key, be
careful getting home, always watch your drink or carry it with you, eat before you go out, drink plenty of water,
stick with friends you know, don’t binge drink, you don’t need to be roaring drunk to have a good time, know
your limits and be aware of the health risks and implications of drinking too much too often.
Conclusions
Recent measures have been introduced by the Government to tackle the problems of drinking and resulting
disorder – particularly where young people are involved. Young people caught under-age drinking by the police
can now be fined £80 on the spot. Under powers that came into force on 1 November 2004, fixed penalty
notices can be issued for offences including:
• Selling alcohol to under 18s.
• Buying alcohol for under 18s and buying alcohol while under 18.
• Delivery of alcohol to under-18s.
• Consumption, or allowing consumption of alcohol by under-18s.
Figures from the fourth national alcohol misuse enforcement campaign show that nearly one in three minors
taking part in trading standards operations were able to buy alcohol in bars and pubs and one in five from
off-licenses. During the period from May 8 to June 8 2006, under-18s working with trading standards
operations were able to buy alcohol in 26% of attempts at Kwiksave, 20% of attempts at Sainsburys, 18% at
Tesco and 12% at Waitrose. In pubs, the failure rate was even higher. Figures showed that under-age drinkers
were served 44% of times at Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises and 23% at JD Wetherspoon.
Closure powers against premises selling alcohol to under age persons need to be used. 54% of those
questioned in Yeovil stated that purchased their own alcohol in pubs and clubs while under age and 38% from
shops. 33% had received alcohol from someone who had bought on their behalf from a shop, 22% had alcohol
bought for them in a bar or a club.
Parents had provided alcohol or knew their children were consuming alcohol in 42% of responses. Parents are
also the most likely people that respondents would have listened to regarding drinking safely and clearly play a
key role in the education and monitoring of young persons drinking habits.
The InTouch system introduced in Yeovil Town Centre is a membership system that allows subscribers to the
system to use fingerprint recognition rather than membership cards to identify persons entering their premises.
The system requires all members to produce a valid form of photographic identification at some point during
their membership. This requirement will enable venues to refuse membership to
those not old enough to enter the venues on the network. It can only work
however if used properly and monitored regularly.
Prevention will not work alone – education of young people is vital. Knowing
something is illegal undoubtedly adds to the appeal. Parental intervention is
paramount as is the need for awareness campaigns specifically aimed at those
aged 10-17, which highlight the harms and consequences of alcohol consumption.
Jo Calvert
Partnership Research Officer
Joanne.calvert@southsomerset.gov.uk