Publication, Part of Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023
National statistics, Accredited official statistics
Correction to school lessons and guidance (part 12)
Following the initial publication it was discovered that teacher responses from volunteer schools had not been excluded from the analysis (see Appendix A8 for information about volunteer schools). This was corrected and the affected tables and commentary have been re-issued including only teacher responses from sampled schools.
Only Part 12: School lessons and guidance was affected, specifically tables 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9 and 12.10, and the associated charts and commentary in the sections 'Frequency of lessons about tobacco, alcohol and drugs' and 'Lesson contributors and sources of information used to prepare lessons'. Though some of the quoted figures changed by 0-5 percentage points, there was no effect to the order of the most common contributors and sources of information to lessons.
13 February 2025 17:00 PM
Part 6: Young people who drink alcohol
Introduction
This part focuses further on the behaviour of pupils who drink alcohol.
Topics covered include:
- where pupils get alcohol.
- where they buy alcohol.
- where they drink and who they drink with.
- adverse consequences of drinking.
Most of the analysis is based on ‘current drinkers’: pupils who drink alcohol at least a few times a year. In 2023, 32% of pupils said that they drank alcohol at least a few times a year (see table 5.6).
This increased with age, from 10% of 11 year olds to 57% of 15 year olds, and therefore, the age profile of current drinkers is heavily weighted towards older pupils (see table 5.7).
Where pupils get alcohol
How pupils obtained alcohol in the last four weeks
This section is based on pupils who obtained alcohol in the last four weeks. Pupils could give more than one answer to this question.
Of pupils who obtained alcohol in the last four weeks, they were most likely to have been given it by parents (61%). Other common sources were to be given it by friends, and to take it from home with permission (both 37%).
7% said they had bought alcohol from a shop in the last 4 weeks, with 15 year olds the most likely to have done so (10% - see table 6.3).
Where current drinkers usually buy alcohol
Pupils could give more than one answer to this question.
16% of current drinkers said they usually bought alcohol from friends or relatives, the most common source. 14% said they usually bought alcohol from any retailer or licenced premises, though this was higher for older pupils; 19% of 15 year olds, compared to 13% of 11 to 12 year olds (not shown on chart - see table 6.6).
73% of current drinkers said they never buy alcohol compared to 66% in 2021. The proportion is also higher for younger pupils; 85% of 11 to 12 year olds, compared to 64% of 15 year olds (not shown on chart - see table 6.6).
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 6.2 to 6.8, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Where pupils usually drink
Where current drinkers usually drink
For this question, pupils were able to give more than one answer.
73% of pupils said that they usually drink at home. Drinking at someone else's home (45%), and drinking at parties with friends (37%) were the next most common answers.
15% said they usually drank in a pub or bar, an increase from 8% in 2021.
Where current drinkers usually drink, by age
For this question, pupils were able to give more than one answer, and only the most common locations are shown in the chart.
Drinking at their own home was common for current drinkers of all ages. Drinking at parties with friends and at someone else’s home become more common as pupils get older; 14% of 11-12 year olds reported drinking at parties with friends compared to 51% of 15 year olds.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 6.9 to 6.11, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Who pupils usually drink with
Who current drinkers usually drink with
For this question, pupils were able to give more than one answer.
Two thirds (67%) of current drinkers said they usually drank with parents, and 50% said they usually drink with friends.
Who current drinkers usually drink with, by age
For this question, pupils were able to give more than one answer, and only the most common responses are shown in the chart.
Younger pupils who drank were most likely to say they usually drank with their parents; 79% of 11-12 year olds. Drinking with friends becomes more likely as pupils get older; 65% of 15 year olds compared to 22% of 11-12 year olds.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 6.12 to 6.14, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Adverse consequences of being drunk
Adverse consequences of drinking for pupils who were drunk in the last four weeks
As reported in part 5, 7% of pupils had been drunk in the last four weeks.
Of these pupils, the most common adverse consequence reported was feeling ill or sick (40%). 23% said they had vomited, 16% had an argument, 15% damaged clothes or other items, and 12% lost money or other items.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 6.17 and 6.18, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Last edited: 13 February 2025 4:59 pm