The latest data shows a continued decline in youth drinking, with 37% of pupils saying they have ever had an alcoholic drink in 2023, down from 40% in 2021.
Prevalence increases with age, from 15% of 11-year-olds to 62% of 15-year-olds.
Commenting on the latest figures, Dr Richard Piper, CEO at Alcohol Change UK, said:
"It's reassuring to see a continued decline in underage drinking, however slight. But it's not enough to look at these surface level figures and say fewer 11-15-year-olds are drinking, job done.
"We need to be looking at the trends among those that do consume alcohol, as these paint a more worrying picture. Almost one in five (19%) 15-year-olds report being drunk in the last four weeks, while this age group is also where we see the highest prevalence of alcohol, with over six in 10 (62%) having ever had an alcoholic drink.
"This is highly concerning given long-standing evidence which shows that alcohol can harm our physical and mental development, and that the earlier alcohol is introduced to us, the more likely we are to drink at higher levels as we get older. All of this increases our likelihood of experiencing the wide range of alcohol-related harms over our lifetime. That's why our Chief Medical Officers advise parents and carers that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option.
"Yet, the environment currently surrounding our children and young people works against them. Children are constantly exposed to alcohol, from their social media feeds to the adverts displayed in public spaces, on TV and at sporting events. That's why we need proper controls in place including sensible limits on alcohol marketing, especially online. We also need to introduce minimum unit pricing in England for alcohol so that strong alcohol can’t be sold at pocket-money prices. It's high time we catch up with global best practice to better protect our children and young people."
