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Too young to drink? Take our survey
Take our online survey, plus enter our competition to win a games console
Nobody under 15 should drink. And if you’re under 17, you should only be allowed to drink under your parents’ supervision.
That’s what it says in proposed new guidelines from a top doctor – the UK Government’s Chief Medical Officer. He points to long-term evidence that teenagers who drink a lot are more likely to:
• be involved in accidents or fights
• have unprotected sex and
• miss school
And the younger you start, the greater the risks. Every year, nearly 6000 10-15-year-olds end up in hospital as a result of either alcohol poisoning or injuries they’ve got while drinking.
It’s not just the immediate effects that worry doctors. Drinking large amounts when you’re young can affect your brain function and your growth – as well as your liver.
That’s why the guidelines also recommend that young people aged 15-17 don’t drink more than once a week, and that they only drink with their parents.
Are these guidelines realistic? Do you think that knowing the risks would make you want to drink less?
Tell us what you think by taking part in our online survey. Plus, enter our competition to win a brand new games console.
The survey is anonymous and only a few questions long. Your views are really important: all the answers will be passed onto the government department responsible for publishing the guidelines – the Department for Children, Schools and Families.