Children drinking more thanks to adults buying them alcohol

Other findings show that the number of girls boozing in Barnsley is increasing more rapidly than the number of boys, though the town's underage drinking figures for both sexes are above the national average.

The research was carried out by Barnsley Council's children's services scrutiny commission between July and December last year and the findings, set to go before a council meeting next week, have now been published.

While the number of 11 to 15-year-olds drinking has "not risen significantly in recent years", the study found, there has been an "increase in the amount consumed by those who do drink."

The report, which is set to be discussed by children's services scrutiny commission members at a meeting on Monday, August 2, says: "A recent health and lifestyle survey of Year 10 students in Barnsley found that 67 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds obtained alcohol through adults.

"Of this figure 50 per cent was through parents or relatives, but 19 per cent was through other adults. This could potentially lead to trouble.

"Twenty-three per cent claimed to obtain alcohol from a shop or supermarket and 45 per cent indicated other young people as the source.

"Only 10 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds mentioned a pub or club as the place to obtain alcohol.

"These figures suggest that a minority of adults act irresponsibly in letting alcohol get into the hands of young people in an unsafe environment."

The report adds: "The survey returns, when compared with national data, suggested that the prevalence of alcohol in Barnsley is higher than the national average for both males and females."

Some of those children who are drinking increasing amounts of alcohol go on to have health problems or commit crime, the study found.

Although hospital admissions in Barnsley were "not significantly "above the national average, during a six-month period last year 67 patients aged under 18 were admitted to Barnsley Hospital due to alcohol.

The report says: "Whilst hospital admissions of young people directly related to alcohol are small in number, this figure has been rising in recent years. The instance of cirrhosis of the liver among young people also continues to rise.

"On Friday and Saturday nights the number of young people attending the Accident and Emergency department can peak at levels where it is challenging for staff to cope."

One further problem, the researchers found, was the reliance on alcohol sales by local shops to stay in business.

The report said: "In large supermarkets alcohol sales may be less than 10 per cent but, in smaller retail units that primarily serve their local communities, this figure could be around 25 per cent. Any significant decline in the sale of alcohol could affect the viability of the outlet and lead to the closure of a valuable community resource.

"There can be issues with the regulation of the sale of alcohol from some of these premises, but many do provide a valuable service to local estates often in deprived areas."

Recommendations made by the research group include more alcohol education both in schools and in the wider community, and also drawing up a new council-wide strategy to co-ordinate efforts across the town in order to tackle the causes of underage drinking.

Barnsley Council declined to comment on the report.