Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

Subject: Young People and Alcohol
Dear Ms Hurcombe and colleagues,
Please find below my responses to your questions:
1. Is alcohol misuse by young people a problem amongst your friends, within your
family or in your community? Are you a young person who regularly drinks alcohol?
Alcohol misuse is a problem in my community - a combination of middle class kids
hanging around in Hoxton/Old Street (16-21 yos) as well as less affluent kids hanging
round the estates (both age groups).
2. What impact does it have on your friends, family and local community?
Anti-social behaviour around Old Street bars and clubs; assaults and arguments late at
night on the streets; vomit and urine on streets/around entrances to flats etc
3. Why do you think some young people misuse alcohol?
I think that you cannot prevent young people from experimenting, and whilst alcohol
and drugs retain a degree of taboo about them, they will always have an appeal to
young people. For others, it is an attempt to escape from harsh reality. Yet there are
different degrees of acceptability. Those who go out around Old Street do mix with a
crowd of various ages, but their drinking is actively encouraged by businesses and the
local council. Those who are not able to do so are seen as being 'anti-social' as they
are hanging around on the streets.
4. Where do young people drink?
In my neighbourhood, the more affluent middle class young people tend to go to the
bars and clubs around Old Street, whilst their less affluent counterparts drink on the
streets, at each others' houses, parties, by the canal etc.
5. How do young people get access to alcohol?
The classic, age-old combination of getting someone older to buy it for you, faking ID
cards etc, sending in the person who looks older to the bar/off-licence to buy it.
6. What can be done to encourage young Londoners to drink more sensibly?
A bold policy to stop chain pubs etc having promotions to encourage people (of all
ages, not just the young ones!) to drink more than they may intend to; the provision of
interesting and affordable leisure activities for young people. This is not just about
having more youth clubs (although these have always had an important role to play in
helping to reduce youth crime/anti-social behaviour generally) but about making sure
the young can afford cinema tickets, are encouraged to take part in sports, and are
offered more options than hanging around in McDonalds of an evening. The solution
is all about having more respect for young people generally rather than trying to
penalise them. But, most importantly, adults should look to their own behaviour and
decide if they are truly setting an example they would like young people to follow.
Yours sincerely,
Dr K Bradley