UK - Alcohol use amongst children is rooted in complex societal issues

28 November 2008. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have released a comprehensive report; 'Use of alcohol among Children and Young People', and a summarising research brief, both available here

The full report explores influences and barriers to young people's involvement with alcohol and factors influencing various attitudes. The project also examined the role of current advertising and communication campaigns in the choices of children and young people whilst aiming to inform the design of interventions to young people and parents.

An overview of findings highlighted in the research brief include:

- For most children and young people (CYP), a high level of dissociation from problems alongside the high level of enjoyment from drinking itself, means communication and information about under-age drinking is of low/very low interest. However there is a role for communications and information aimed at CYP, but impact is likely to be limited without supporting work.

- Parents and carers (PCs) are a critical audience. PCs do not have a sufficient understanding of the negative impacts of CYP's drinking and related issues. PCs also facilitate and often encourage CYP's drinking

- To engage effectively CYP with communications, targeted information needs to be supported by a broader re-framing of alcohol within society