Middle-class parents who normalize alcohol are partly responsible for the high level of alcohol consumption among young people in England, experts suggested today.
One in three children has already drunk at the age of 11 and one in two at the age of 13.
This is the highest proportion of children drinking in 44 countries, according to a damning report from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Children from wealthy households are the most likely to drink, and charities warn they are ‘mirroring’ the behavior of affluent parents, who often enjoy wine.
Pandemic-era restrictions that left children isolated and ‘stuck at home’ could also be behind a surge in the wake of Covid, scientific commentators say.
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The study, one of the largest of its kind examining data from more than 280,000 children, also showed that England has the highest levels of vaping in Western Europe at age 11.
By age 15, 40 percent of girls and a quarter of boys have tried e-cigarettes.
The number of smokers has also risen sharply.
Health chiefs warned that more must be done to protect young people from these ‘toxic and dangerous products’, labeling their use a ‘serious threat to public health’.
By the age of just 11, 34 percent of girls and 35 percent of boys in England have drunk alcohol, the figures show – more than double the global average of 15 percent.
By age 15, 56 percent of boys from high-income families in England said they had drunk alcohol, compared with 39 percent from low-income families.
The gap was smaller among girls, with 55 percent of girls from affluent areas drinking alcohol, compared to 50 percent in poorer areas.
Dr. Jo Inchley, the study’s international coordinator, from the University of Glasgow, said this could reflect “cultural norms” among the middle class.
She added: ‘Alcohol may be more normalized in wealthier families, and financially it may be more accessible.
‘Alcohol is part of the sporting culture in Britain, and young people from affluent backgrounds are more likely to be part of sports clubs and groups.’
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It appears that children are also “starting” drinking at a younger age, which may have accelerated during the pandemic, she said.
Dr. Inchley added: ‘Some of this could be the impact of lockdown on social life, mental health, relationships with schools: we know Covid has had a big impact on this group.’
In Scotland this was 16 percent for girls, in Scotland 17 percent for boys. Fourteen percent of girls in Wales and 20 percent of boys have drunk alcohol at this age.
Under British law it is illegal to purchase alcohol under the age of 18. However, at the age of 16 and 17, children may drink beer, wine or cider with their meal, accompanied by an adult.
The NHS advises against drinking until the age of 18, warning that alcohol can damage the development of children’s organs, including the brain and liver.
Dr. Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: ‘People tend to have the perception that introducing moderate alcohol consumption to children is a good way to teach them safer drinking habits.
‘This is not true. The sooner a child drinks, the greater the chance that he or she will have problems with alcohol later in life.’
She added: ‘A pro-alcohol environment leads to the normalization of drinking and ‘cultural blindness’ to alcohol harm among children. This applies even if the parents drink moderately.
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“And since wealthier people tend to drink more, this normalization will be especially true, which is likely why we see higher drinking rates among children from affluent families.”
‘We know that children mirror the behavior of the adults around them, so it is important that parents who drink any amount are aware of the impact this can have on their child later in life.’
Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance, also blamed exposure to alcohol advertising for fueling drinking at a young age.
He said it is ‘shocking’ that children in Britain are more familiar with certain beer brands than biscuits, crisps and ice cream.
He added: ‘Government advertising regulations have been introduced for other harmful products such as cigarettes and junk food, we urgently need a similar approach for alcohol.’
The WHO study covered young people living in Europe, Central Asia and Canada, and included more than 4,000 children in England.
The research found that 40 percent of girls and 26 percent of boys in England had vaped by the age of 15, compared to a global average of 33 percent and 31 percent respectively.
About 30 percent of girls in England – almost one in three – have vaped in the last 30 days.
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In England, more girls than boys aged 15 have tried smoking (28 percent versus 16 percent), with the rate among girls higher than the global average (26 percent).
Anne Longfield, chair of the Center for Young Lives and former children’s commissioner, said: ‘We should be concerned about the rising number of young people taking up vaping, our position at the top of the league table for child drinking, and the impact on health, development and the additional pressure this will place on the NHS.
“The Wild West era of vaping companies being allowed to do whatever they want must end.”
A government spokesperson said: ‘The health advice is clear: smoking, vaping and underage drinking can harm young people and their development.
‘That is why there are age restrictions on the sale of these products.
‘As a government we are creating Britain’s first smoke-free generation.
‘Our landmark Tobacco and Vape Act makes it an offense to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009 and includes powers to restrict the flavours, packaging and displays of vapes to reduce their appeal to children.’