Underage Drinking UK

In 2021, two-fifths (40%) of pupils aged 11 to 15 reported ever having an alcoholic drink

• 42% of girls aged 11 to 15 reported ever having an alcoholic drink compared to 39% of boys.
• Two-thirds (65%) of 15-year-olds reported ever having an alcoholic drink compared to 36% of 13-year-olds and 13% of 11-year-olds. 
• The proportion of pupils aged 11 to 15 who have ever had an alcoholic drink declined from 44% in 2016 to 40% in 2021. 

Source: Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England

In 2018, just over one-third (36%) of pupils aged 13 reported ever having an alcoholic drink compared to 71% of pupils aged 15.

• Almost three-quarters (73%) of 15-year-old girls reported ever having an alcoholic drink compared to 70% of 15-year-old boys.
• Over one-third (37%) of 13-year-old boys reported ever having an alcoholic drink compared to 35% of 13 year-old girls.
• The proportion of 13-year-old boys and 13-year-old girls who reported ever having an alcoholic drink increased from 29% and 26% respectively in 2015 while the proportion of 15-year-old boys and 15-year-old girls increased from 63% and 68% in 2015.

Source: Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS)

In 2022, just under one-third (31%) of pupils in school years 8 to 12 reported ever having an alcoholic drink. 

• One-third (33%) of boys reported ever having an alcoholic drink compared to 29% of girls.
• Almost two-thirds (64%) of pupils in Year 12 reported ever having an alcoholic drink compared to 11% in Year 8.
• The proportion of pupils in school years 8 to 12 who reported ever having an alcoholic drink remained relatively stable between 2016 and 2022 (32% and 31% respectively).

Source: Young Persons' Behaviour & Attitude Survey

In 2021, almost one in ten (9%) pupils aged 11 to 15 reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week. 

• Almost two-thirds (62%) of 11 to 15-year-olds who drank alcohol in the last week had consumed alcohol on only one day in that week.
• 9% of girls aged 11 to 15 reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week compared to 8% of boys. 
• 20% of 15-year-olds reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week compared to 4% of 13-year-olds and 2% of 11-year-old pupils. 
• The proportion of pupils aged 11 to 15 who reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week remained relatively stable between 2016 and 2021 (10% and 9% respectively).

Source: Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England

In 2018, just 6% of pupils aged 13 reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week compared to one-fifth (20%) of pupils aged 15.

• One-fifth (20%) of 15-year-old girls reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week which was the same among 15-year-old boys (20%). 
• 7% of 13-year-old boys reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week compared to 6% of 13-year-old girls. 
• The proportion of 13-year-old boys who reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week increased from 4% to 7% between 2015 and 2018 and from 16% to 20% among 15-year-old boys. There was also an increase among 13-year-old girls (from 4% to 6%). However, there was no significant change among 15-year-old girls. 

Source: Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS)

In 2022, 5% of pupils in school years 8 to 12 reported drinking an alcoholic drink in the last week.

• 6% of boys in school years 8 to 12 reported drinking an alcoholic drink in the last week compared to 4% of girls.
• 15% of pupils in Year 12 reported drinking an alcoholic drink in the last week compared to 3% of pupils in school years 8 to 11. 

Source: Young Persons’ Behaviour & Attitudes Survey

In 2021, almost one-fifth (17%) of pupils aged 11 to 15 reported being drunk at least once whereas 21% had drank alcohol and not been drunk.

• 20% of girls aged 11 to 15 reported being drunk at least once compared to 14% of boys.
• Two-fifths (39%) of all pupils aged 15 reported being drunk at least once compared to 11% of 13-year-olds and 1% of 11-year-olds. 
• In 2021, almost one in ten (8%) pupils aged 11 to 15 reported being drunk in the last four weeks which has declined from 14% in 2010.

Source: Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England

In 2021, just over half of pupils aged 13 (53%) and over two-thirds (70%) of pupils aged 15 who had ever consumed alcohol had been drunk at least once.

• 74% of 15-year old girls who had consumed alcohol reported being drunk at least once compared to 66% of boys.
• 57% of 13-year-old girls who had consumed alcohol reported being drunk at least once compared to 48% of boys. 
• The proportion of pupils aged 13 and 15 who reported being drunk at least once increased among all groups between 2015 and 2018 except 15-year-old boys.

Source: Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS)

In 2022, almost half (46%) of pupils in school years 8 to 12 who had ever consumed alcohol reported being drunk at least once.

• 46% of boys in school years 8 to 12 who had ever consumed alcohol reported being drunk at least once compared to 47% of girls.
• Almost two-thirds (63%) of pupils in Year 12 reported being drunk at least once compared to 19% of pupils in Year 8. 
• The proportion of pupils who had ever consumed alcohol who reported being drunk at least once declined from 52% to 46% between 2010 and 2022.

Source: Young Persons’ Behaviour & Attitudes Survey

In 2021, pupils aged 11 to 15 who had ever had an alcoholic drink were most likely to usually drink in their own home (76%). This was followed by drinking at someone else's home (42%), at parties with friends (29%), and somewhere outside (15%).

• Almost half (47%) of girls aged 11 to 15 usually consumed alcohol at someone else’s home compared to just over one-third (36%) of boys.
• Four-fifths (80%) of pupils aged 11 to 12 usually consumed alcohol at home compared to just under three-quarters (73%) of pupils aged 15. 
• The proportion of pupils aged 11 to 15 who usually drink at home or in other people's homes increased from 74% in 2010 to 88% in 2021.

Source: Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England

In 2018, 60% of pupils aged 13 who had ever had an alcoholic drink and 51% of pupils aged 15 usually consumed alcohol at their own home.

• Almost one-third (30%) of 13-year-olds and half (47%) of 15-year olds usually consumed alcohol at someone else’s home.
• One-quarter (25%) of 13-year-olds and half (50%) of 15-year-olds usually consumed alcohol at a party with friends. 
• The proportion of pupils aged 13 who usually drank at home increased from 53% to 60% between 2015 and 2018 and the proportion of pupils aged 15 who usually drank at home increased from 43% to 51%.

Source: Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS)

In 2021, almost two-fifths (37%) of pupils aged 11 to 15 said they had obtained alcohol in the last four weeks.

• Just under one-quarter (23%) of pupils aged 11 to 15 said they had obtained alcohol from their parents in the last four weeks.
• 15% of pupils aged 11 to 15 said they had taken alcohol from home in the last four weeks and 14% were given alcohol from friends. 
• Just over one in ten (11%) 15-year-olds who said they had obtained alcohol in the last four weeks had purchased alcohol from a shop and 4% had purchased alcohol from a pub.
• The proportion of pupils aged 11 to 15 who have obtained alcohol in the last four weeks has remained relatively stable between 2010 and 2021 (36% and 37% respectively).

Source: Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England

In 2018, pupils aged 13 who had ever had an alcoholic drink were most likely to usually get their alcohol at home (37%), whereas pupils aged 15 were most likely to get alcohol from a friend (34%).

• 31% of 13-year-olds and 31% of 15-year-olds who had ever had an alcoholic drink usually got their alcohol from a relative.
• Just over one-third (33%) of 13-year-olds and just over half (51%) of 15-year-olds who had ever had an alcoholic drink had asked someone else to buy them alcohol in the last 4 weeks. 
• 29% of 13-year-olds and one-third (33%) of 15-year-olds who had ever had an alcoholic drink and successfully got someone to buy them alcohol in the last 4 weeks had received alcohol from their mother, father or carer.

Source: Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS)

In 2022, 40% of pupils in school years 8 to 12 who had ever had an alcoholic drink obtained alcohol from their mother or father the last time they drank.

• 3% of pupils in Year 12 who had ever had an alcoholic drink had purchased alcohol from an off license the last time they drank, 7% purchased alcohol from an pub and 4% purchased it from a club or disco.
• Almost two-fifths (38%) of girls who had ever had an alcoholic drink had received alcohol from their mother or father the last time they drank compared to 42% of boys.
• One-third (32%) of pupils in Year 12 who had ever had an alcoholic drink had received alcohol from their mother or father the last time they drank compared to 46% of pupils in school years 8 to 11.

Source: Young Persons’ Behaviour & Attitudes Survey

In 2021, over half (53%) of pupils aged 11 to 15 thought it was ‘ok’ for someone their age to try drinking alcohol.

• However, just under one-quarter (23%) of pupils thought it was ‘ok’ to try getting drunk to see what it was like.
• Over half (52%) of boys and 54% of girls aged 11 to 15 thought it was 'ok' to try drinking alcohol to see what it is like. 
• Three-quarters (76%) of pupils aged 15 thought it was 'ok' to try drinking alcohol to see what it is like compared to just over half (52%) of pupils aged 13 and 23% of pupils aged 11.
• The proportion of pupils aged 11 to 15 who thought it was ‘ok’ to try drinking alcohol declined from 55% in 2010 to 53% in 2021.

Source: Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England

In 2018, half (51%) of pupils aged 13 and over three-quarters (79%) of pupils aged 15 thought it was 'ok' for someone their age to try drinking alcohol.

• Just under one-fifth (16%) of 13-year-olds and half (49%) of 15-year-olds thought it was 'ok' for someone their age to try and get drunk.
• Just under one fifth (17%) of 13-year-old girls and 15% of boys thought it was 'ok' for someone their age to try getting drunk compared to half (51%) of 15-year-old girls and 47% of 15-year-old boys. 
• The proportion of 13-year-olds who thought it was 'ok' for someone their age to try drinking alcohol increased from 40% to 51% between 2015 and 2018 while the proportion of 15-year-olds increased from 73% to 79%.

Source: Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS)