Printer-friendly version

The Knowledge and use of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs: Primary school survey 2006¹ presents the main findings of a survey carried out to provide an up-to-date picture of the knowledge and use of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs by primary school children in Northern Ireland in 2006.

The findings are based on 3,734 responses from primary school children in P5, P6 and P7.
The report examines:

• awareness and availability of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs;
• use of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs;
• knowledge and awareness of the effects of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs;
• attitudes to consumers alcohol, cigarettes and drugs

Some key findings in relation to alcohol are as follows:

• 95% of pupils had heard of alcohol before the survey
• Almost one fifth (18%) of pupils who were aware of alcohol had been offered an alcoholic drink; of these 39% had been offered alcohol by their parents
• 38% of all pupils surveyed reported that they had tried alcohol
• the most commonly reported age when pupils reported first trying alcohol was 9 years old (24%)
• 57% reported first consuming alcohol at home
• 13% reported that they were currently using alcohol; 34% drank at the time of the survey
• alcopops (30%) followed by beer (27%) were the most commonly reported alcoholic drinks
• 86% of pupils reported that when they last used alcohol, their parents or someone who was looking after them knew
• 13% of pupils reported having been in trouble due to drinking alcohol; 59% of these with parents

To download the pdf publication "Knowledge and use of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. Primary school survey 2006" click here.

Reference

1. Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). Knowledge and use of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. Primary school survey 2006. Belfast: Central Survey Unit (CSU), 2007.