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UK teenage girls 'worst drunks' | UK teenage girls 'worst drunks' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Young teenagers in the UK are more likely to get drunk than anywhere else in the industrial world, shows an international survey. | Young teenagers in the UK are more likely to get drunk than anywhere else in the industrial world, shows an international survey. |
Girls in particular have pushed up this level of drunkenness in the UK, says a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. | Girls in particular have pushed up this level of drunkenness in the UK, says a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. |
Among 15-year-olds, girls are more likely to have been drunk than boys. | Among 15-year-olds, girls are more likely to have been drunk than boys. |
But the report also says young people in the UK are materially well-off and enjoy a "high quality of school life". | But the report also says young people in the UK are materially well-off and enjoy a "high quality of school life". |
The report, Doing Better for Children, compares the well-being of young people living in the leading industrial economies. | |
Growing up | Growing up |
This wide-ranging international study shows young people in the UK enjoying generous support as they grow up - with above-average state funding, a high quality of school life, below-average child poverty and low levels of bullying. | |
YOUNG PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING Worst drunkenness: UKHighest rate of bullying: TurkeyMost affluent: NorwayBest education: FinlandBest local environment: AustraliaLeast exercise: SwitzerlandBest housing: NorwayLeast risk: SwedenHighest suicide rate: New ZealandEnjoy school most: TurkeyEnjoy school least: Czech Republic | YOUNG PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING Worst drunkenness: UKHighest rate of bullying: TurkeyMost affluent: NorwayBest education: FinlandBest local environment: AustraliaLeast exercise: SwitzerlandBest housing: NorwayLeast risk: SwedenHighest suicide rate: New ZealandEnjoy school most: TurkeyEnjoy school least: Czech Republic |
But in their personal lives, the UK youngsters are characterised by alcohol abuse and high rates of teenage pregnancy. | But in their personal lives, the UK youngsters are characterised by alcohol abuse and high rates of teenage pregnancy. |
Drunkenness in the UK is the highest among 24 OECD countries, measured in terms of the proportion of 13 and 15-year-olds having been drunk at least twice. | Drunkenness in the UK is the highest among 24 OECD countries, measured in terms of the proportion of 13 and 15-year-olds having been drunk at least twice. |
The UK's figure for these under-age drunks - 33% - is more than double the rate for countries such as the United States, France and Italy. | The UK's figure for these under-age drunks - 33% - is more than double the rate for countries such as the United States, France and Italy. |
Among girls the gap between the UK and other countries is even wider. | Among girls the gap between the UK and other countries is even wider. |
One in five 13-year-olds in the UK report having been drunk twice - four times higher than countries such as the United States, Sweden and the Netherlands. | One in five 13-year-olds in the UK report having been drunk twice - four times higher than countries such as the United States, Sweden and the Netherlands. |
Among 15-year-old girls in the UK, 50% reported getting drunk, almost three times higher than their counterparts in France. The rate for boys in the UK in this age group getting drunk is 44%. | Among 15-year-old girls in the UK, 50% reported getting drunk, almost three times higher than their counterparts in France. The rate for boys in the UK in this age group getting drunk is 44%. |
Risk-taking | |
"The difference in the UK is the high level of risk taking," says report co-author, Dominic Richardson. | |
As well as young people getting drunk more often there are also unusually high rates of teenage pregnancy, he says. | |
This is despite a background of increased spending on young people - and relatively strong educational performance. | |
"It shows that tackling child poverty is not a magic bullet. Children who are from well-off homes can still have problems," he says. | |
In terms of abusing alcohol, he says the difference might be the context in which young people first experiment with drink. In France or Italy, youngsters might try drinks in a family environment - where they are less likely to get drunk. In the UK, they might be drinking with other teenagers. | |
"It's down to sensible teaching," he says. | |
The figures on teenage drinking used by the OECD were gathered in 2005-06. More recent figures from the NHS, published in July, suggest that more 11 to 15-year-olds are not drinking any alcohol - but those who do drink are consuming more. | |
While the OECD highlights the problems with drinking and teenage pregnancy, it also presents a positive picture of the support available to people growing up in the UK. | While the OECD highlights the problems with drinking and teenage pregnancy, it also presents a positive picture of the support available to people growing up in the UK. |
It says that relative to other countries, children here are "materially fairly well-off". | It says that relative to other countries, children here are "materially fairly well-off". |
And that "average family income is higher and child poverty is lower than OECD averages". | And that "average family income is higher and child poverty is lower than OECD averages". |
It says that children in the UK also enjoy a high quality of school life and enjoy school much more than many of their international counterparts. | It says that children in the UK also enjoy a high quality of school life and enjoy school much more than many of their international counterparts. |
Also bullying is less frequent and teenage suicides are less common in the UK than in most other industrialised countries. | Also bullying is less frequent and teenage suicides are less common in the UK than in most other industrialised countries. |