Teenage boys and alcohol

When young people drink, they are only just beginning to find out about alcohol’s effects.

This means that alcohol can put them in some vulnerable situations.

Young people who drink alcohol to excess can end up:

In hospital. Nearly 5,000 teenagers are admitted to hospital every year for an alcohol-related condition.

In trouble with the police. Figures from the police say that 10 to 17-year-olds that drink once a week are more likely to be involved in a criminal offence. (3)

Having unprotected sex. In one survey, a third of 16 to 22-year-olds said they have had unprotected sex when drunk.

In the long-term, drinking regularly to excess means teenagers are more at risk of developing serious health problems, including liver disease and cancers in the future. Drinking can also cause problems with mental developments too, with heavy drinking in adolescence leading to learning difficulities.  

LISTEN HERE: How one man spent time in jail for crimes committed because of alcohol