Under-age drinking on the rise
An investigation by The Independent on Sunday has revealed that a record number of children are in treatment for alcohol abuse. According to the findings, children as young as 10 are spending up to three years in treatment and the number of under-18s in alcohol treatment programmes has soared by 40% in the last year.
British teenagers are among the heaviest teenagers in Europe (along with Ireland and Denmark) and health professionals are particularly concerned about the number of girls drinking excessively and needing treatment. According to the findings, health professionals are also looking with concern at high profile celebrities who “appear to glamorise excessive boozing”.