The immediate effects of drinking alcohol concern young people more than longer-term health effects. Photo: Photo: Dave Dugdale rentvine.com / flickr CC
Young people and alcohol
New research shows that drinking is not an automatic rite of passage
Drinking and getting drunk is not an automatic rite of passage for young people in the UK. This is the key finding of a recent research study undertaken by academics at Middlesex University and published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The study examined the lives and choices of young people aged between sixteen and twenty-five who drink little or no alcohol. It also explored the influences that shape their decisions and how their choices and patterns of consumption affected their lives.
The report states: ‘choosing to drink little or no alcohol is a positive choice made for many reasons. For some young people the decision not to drink is central to their identity, for others it is “no big deal”, just one of many life choices.’
Major influences stem from observing people around them. Good parental role models play a part, as does witnessing the negative effects of alcohol on others.
Young people who choose to drink little or no alcohol do not fall into easy stereotypes; their lives are busy and varied. As alcohol does not feature in their lives, they tend to prefer activities where drinking alcohol rarely plays a role.
Young people develop responses and strategies to help them manage not drinking alcohol. While some avoid drinking environments, many are content to socialise with those who drink.
The immediate effects of drinking alcohol (such as hangovers and loss of control) concern young people more than longer-term health effects.
Young people feel that alcohol education and alcohol messages are based on the assumption that young people will drink. They emphasise the importance of presenting not drinking as a legitimate option to young people, parents and society more broadly.
Comments
Unfortunately the drinks industry pumps out images that appear ‘cool’, or elevating drunken activity to fun, being ‘a lad’ or ‘ladette’. Our society is unwilling to accept that alcohol is in fact a drug, socially acceptable, addictive and highly profitable and in small doses enjoyable. It is my understanding that the misuse of drink primarily by young people is more of a northern European phenomena, maybe that bears some investigation?
By Rycro1 on 2nd September 2012 - 17:15
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