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This report deals with self-reported alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use among a representative sample of 15-16 year old students in secondary schools in Northern Ireland. Information was gathered from a total of 723 students at 71 schools throughout Northern Ireland. Students completed a standardised questionnaire under exam conditions. Data collection took place between March and June 1999.

Main findings

• About 90% of respondents had, at some time, consumed alcohol. Over 70% reported having experienced intoxication at least once.
• Nearly 70% of boys and 66.5% of girls had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. More than half (51%) of the boys and 46% of the girls reported having been intoxicated during this period.
• Among boys, beer was the drink most frequently consumed during the past 30 days, while among girls, the main preference was for spirits. Girls also seemed more likely than boys to drink wine.
• On the last drinking occasion, beer was at least part of the total consumption for 80% of the boys. 'Alcopops' were not very popular among the boys but had been consumed by just over half of the girls.
• The most common drinking place for both sexes was at home or someone else's home. However, a substantial proportion of drinking took place in discos and in open spaces such as parks or streets.
• 47.2% of boys and 40.5% of girls had experienced at least one adverse consequence due to their drinking.
• 20% had experienced three or more problems related to their alcohol use.
• Levels of factual knowledge about alcohol were low, with fewer than a quarter of those surveyed being able to answer more than three out of six basic questions about alcohol correctly.

To obtain a copy of this report in full go to:
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/smoking_drinking_teens.pdf

Reference

1. Millar P and Plant M. Drinking, smoking and illicit drug use amongst 15 and 16 year old school students in Northern Ireland, Belfast: DHSSPS, 1999.