Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

a weekly basis); for girls the most popular drinks are alcopops/breezers (17% weekly
consumption). Notably, the popularity of alcopops/breezers declined between 2003
and 2007 among both sexes. In 2003, these drinks were consumed weekly by 29%
of 12 to 18 year old school-goers compared to 16% in 2007.
Figure 7.2 Trends in ever alcohol use in secondary school pupils by age and gender from 1992
100 % Boys
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
1992 1996 1999 2003 2007
100 % Girls
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
1992 1996 1999 2003 2007
12 13 14 12 13 14
Percentage of ever drinkers. Source: Dutch National School Survey, Trimbos Institute.
Binge Drinking
• Over one in three (36%) of pupils attending secondary schools reported having
recently engaged in binge drinking. This is defined as consuming at least five units of
alcohol on at least one occasion during the past month. There was little difference in
the percentages for boys and girls.
• In the 12 to 14 age group, the percentage of binge drinkers declined between
2003 and 2007 (28% in 2003 versus 19% in 2007). Among 15 to 18 year olds, the
percentage of binge drinkers in this period remained stable (56% in 2003 and 57%
in 2007).
• Among school-goers who drink, the percentage of binge drinkers remained stable,
however, in all age categories. In 2007 and 2003, the respective percentages were
68% and 66% of all current drinkers aged 12 to 18.
• Nonetheless, according to NPO data, binge drinking in the 15-24 age group declined
between 2001 and 2005 – from 53% to 40%. These figures refer to people who on
at least one occasion consumed six or more units of alcohol in a single day during the
past half year. This definition differs somewhat from that in the HBSC study; therefore
the results are not mutually comparable (Rodenburg et al., 2005).
7 Alcohol
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