Alcohol and Younger People
24/03/2010
In 2009, the Chief Medical Officer published the first guidelines on alcohol and people under 18. The guidelines recommend that under-18s shouldn’t have any alcohol but if they do they should never do so before they are 15 years-old. They should also be supervised by an adult whenever they are around alcohol.
Alcohol can damage younger people’s health as their bodies have not yet fully developed. Younger people are also smaller so cannot process alcohol in the same way as adults. They have a lower alcohol tolerance and are likely to feel more drunk more quickly.
If they’ve been drinking young people can end up in risky situations which make them vulnerable. They may not be able to handle alcohol emotionally and may make poor or dangerous decisions due to alcohol.
Parents and carers of young people are reminded that even at 15 and older, alcohol can pose health risks. If young people do drink any alcohol, the guidance advises that this should not be regular and ideally should only be once a week at the very most. It’s advised that young people should also drink less than the maximum limits recommended for adults.
Young people should be educated about alcohol and its dangers from a young age. Be open and honest with young people about alcohol and encourage them to talk to you and ask any questions that they have about drinking.
