Adolescents, Crime and Alcohol Consumption
Submitted by Ally
- 30 November 2016
Alcohol in the system was a year-long project that investigated the link between drinking and youth offending.
Listed below are the project's key findings:
- Drink culture is rife in the UK. Access to alcohol information and support for young people, however, is less so.
- Young people who drink are especially vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and to finding themselves in confrontational situations.
- There is a well-established link between binge-drinking and violence amongst young people.
- Up to 41% of youth offenders had consumed alcohol at the time of committing their offence(s).
- A high proportion of those surveyed reported that ‘drinking less’ would stop them from re-offending.
- Having a criminal record has long-term consequences which, in turn, negatively impacts on future prospects.
- Current screening and assessments for alcohol consumption amongst young people are inconsistent.
- It is necessary that youth offenders who commit crimes while under the influence recognise that substance abuse is a public health issue.
- Actively involving young people in the design and delivery of substance use prevention initiatives is an effective way of tackling the problem.
