Fewer children drink, smoke or take drugs

Teenagers are sobering up – but the improvement is marginal, according to the latest survey of drinking, smoking and drug-taking by young people.

Rates of drug-taking and drinking are falling and smoking is at its lowest level since records began a quarter of a century ago, figures show.

Among 11 to 15-year-olds, the proportion who have avoided alcohol has risen to almost half (46 per cent) in 2007 from 39 per cent in 2001.

The number who had drunk alcohol in the past week – 640,000 out of 3.1 million in the age group – was down. But the amount consumed by those who drink is worryingly high, at an average of 12.7 units, equivalent to just over six pints of beer or a bottle-and-a-half of wine.

Drug-taking was also down. Even so, a quarter of the age group had tried drugs, most commonly cannabis, compared with 29 per cent in 2001. Six per cent smoked regularly – at least once a week – the lowest level since smoking by 11 to 15-year-olds was first measured in 1982.

Risks to teenagers' health were highlighted by the Government's Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, in his annual report this week. He urged the implementation of a total ban on drinking and driving for 17 to 20-year-olds with a zero blood alcohol limit. He also called for a national summit to examine teenage health.

"Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer related to smoking than someone who starts in their twenties," he said.

Yesterday's figures, published by the NHS Information Centre, were welcomed by the Government which said they showed health messages were getting through. A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "Since its launch five years ago, £30m has been spent to provide friendly confidential advice to young people about illegal drugs through Frank. We will continue our work through Frank, the alcohol strategy and our smoking campaigns to push the numbers down further."

Andrew Lansley, the shadow Health Secretary, said: "What kind of a future are we setting our children up for when it is so easy for them to get hold of drugs, cigarettes and alcohol?

"Despite government rhetoric, too many young people have access to illegal substances. We will use the full scope of the law to punish those who supply minors."

Binge-drinking is the major worry among adolescents, which is linked with a higher rate of accidents, alcohol-fuelled violence and unsafe sex.

Alcohol-related hospital admissions of children aged under 16 increased by a third to 5,280 in the decade from 1996 to 2006.

Adolescent binge-drinkers are 50 per cent more likely than their peers to be dependent on alcohol or taking illegal drugs when they reach the age of 30.

The survey was conducted among more than 7,800 secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15 in 273 schools in England during the autumn term in 2007. The results show that while boys drink more than girls, girls smoke more than boys but both sexes show equal involvement in experimenting with drugs.

The consumption of alcohol by teenagers is one-third higher than was recorded in previous years, owing to a change in the method of calculation (12.7 units compared with 9.2 units). The authors say this does not reflect a sudden increase in drinking by teenagers but is a "probably more accurate estimate" of their actual drinking.

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