British Teenagers are the Biggest Young Drinkers in the World
20 Jun 2008
British teenagers drink more alcohol and take more drugs than any other their age in the Western world, a report by the World Health Organisation says.
Welsh youngsters had the highest levels of underage drinking, followed by Scottish children. English children were pushed into fourth place by Estonia.
The figures, based on interviews with 240,000 youngsters aged 11, 13, and 15, look at the intake of alcohol and drugs, and the sexual behaviour, of young teenagers in 41 countries across the world.
Official figures show that there has been a 37 per cent increase in the number of children being admitted to hospital because of alcohol since 2001.
Scotland's ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) is set to announce plans to raise the age at which young people can buy alcohol in off licences and supermarkets from 18 to 21.
Although under-21s will still be able to buy drinks in pubs and clubs, the SNP believes that the move will help to curb problem drinking among young people.
The World Health Organisation plans to draw up a global strategy to tackle binge drinking among young people and other forms of harmful drinking, which it blames for 2.3 million deaths across the globe every year.
Welsh youngsters had the highest levels of underage drinking, followed by Scottish children. English children were pushed into fourth place by Estonia.
The figures, based on interviews with 240,000 youngsters aged 11, 13, and 15, look at the intake of alcohol and drugs, and the sexual behaviour, of young teenagers in 41 countries across the world.
Official figures show that there has been a 37 per cent increase in the number of children being admitted to hospital because of alcohol since 2001.
Scotland's ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) is set to announce plans to raise the age at which young people can buy alcohol in off licences and supermarkets from 18 to 21.
Although under-21s will still be able to buy drinks in pubs and clubs, the SNP believes that the move will help to curb problem drinking among young people.
The World Health Organisation plans to draw up a global strategy to tackle binge drinking among young people and other forms of harmful drinking, which it blames for 2.3 million deaths across the globe every year.