The risks of underage drinking

"It is a shocking and worrying statistic that one teenager between the ages of 14 and 17 dies each week as a result of alcohol abuse. Many more are hospitalised. Binge drinking can lead to violence, high risk sexual activity, depression and, in some instances, brain damage and alcohol dependence. Parents perhaps believe that supervised underage drinking in the home is safe but we don't yet know enough about whether it is possible to drink safely in this way so we need to make sure that our children are protected. Be a good role model and help to protect your child and their brain." Dr Christine Bennett, Chief Medical Officer, Bupa Australia.

Statistics on alcohol

One teenager died each week from the risky use of alcohol ¹
One in five teenagers report drinking weekly ²
28 per cent of young people aged 14 - 19 report consuming alcohol at risky or high risk levels for short term harm within the last month ³
Alcohol consumption at harmful levels among Australia secondary school students aged 12 - 17 years who are current drinkers increased from 26% in 1999 to 31% in 2005 ⁴
The majority of young Australians who report drinking at home also report parents as the primary suppliers of their alcohol ⁵
Among young people aged 16 - 24 years, alcohol related harm is one of the leading causes of disease and injury burden ⁶
60 young people are hospitalised each weekend in Australia because they drink alcohol ¹

Summary of MBF Healthwatch survey findings

49 per cent of Australian adults believe that underage drinking under parental supervision in the home is acceptable
63 per cent of Australians that earn over $100,000 believe that underage drinking under parental supervision in the home is acceptable
53 per cent of people earning between $70,001 to $100,000
48 per cent of people earning $40,001 to $70,000.
59 per cent of adults in Western Australia support underage drinking
46 per cent of adults in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
52 per cent of adults in Tasmania
51 per cent in Queensland and Victoria
49 per cent in South Australia and the Northern Territory

The short term harms of underage binge drinking:

Road trauma
High risk sexual activity
Depression
Suicidal behaviour
Decreased academic and sporting performance
Aggression
Assault
Disrupted family relationships
Delinquent behaviour

The long term harms of underage binge drinking

Maturation of the adolescent brain. The human brain is still developing until the mid-20s. Disruption with a neurotoxin like alcohol may lead to learning difficulties, memory problems, reduced performance on attention-based testing ⁵
Alcohol-associated illnesses
Social problems

Why is alcohol bad for the brain?

Source: Dr. Andrew Rochford on www.drinkwise.com.au

The brain is our control centre. It directs all the functions that go on in our body - conscious and unconscious. Arguably, a healthy brain is our most valuable asset.

We once thought the teenage brain was the same as an adult brain that it had reached full development and finished growing by the time puberty had kicked in. But now the latest brain science is telling us a very different story.

From the age of 12 or 13 through to the early 20s, the brain is in a state of intense development, moulding and hardwiring in readiness for the challenges of adulthood ahead. Through a process called 'frontalisation', the brain is busy forming all the critical parts it needs for learning, memory, planning, emotional stability and thinking for the rest of life.

Once this development phase is complete, at around about 23 or 24 years of age, the brain's capacity is fixed and cannot be changed. The development period is therefore vitally important and anything that interferes with this is obviously bad news.

Alcohol disrupts brain development. Teenagers who drink alcohol risk their brains not reaching full capacity, which means they might never reach their full potential as an adult. It's that simple!

What can parents do?

Be a good role model - one of the key influencers in a young person's life is their parents
Talk to your teenager about alcohol laws and the potential consequences of breaking them
Praise a responsible attitude towards alcohol
Parents are strongly advised to adopt a zero tolerance alcohol policy for the first three years of high school as children under 15 at greatest risk of harm ⁷
After this, if they must introduce alcohol, they should introduce moderate and responsible drinking in association with food ⁸

Tips for responsible drinking for adults

It is possible to drink at a level that is less risky, while still having fun. There are a number of things you can do to make sure you stay within low risk levels and don't get to a stage where you are no longer capable of controlling your drinking. ⁷

These include:

Set limits for yourself and stick to them
Start with non-alcoholic drinks and alternate with alcoholic drinks
Drink slowly
Try drinks with a lower alcohol content
Eat before or while you are drinking
If you participate in rounds of drinks try to include some non-alcoholic drinks

Where can parents go for more information?

Australian Government website (www.alcohol.gov.au ) has a resource for parents and carers about alcohol and your kids
Your doctor
Your local community health service
Alcohol or drug line in your local area

About MBF Healthwatch survey

The MBF Healthwatch poll is MBF's way of keeping its 'finger on the pulse' of the Australian community. It seeks to understand the concerns, attitudes and aspirations of Australians in relation to their health and healthcare needs. It provides a snapshot of the nation's views on key health areas pertinent at the time. It is through these surveys that MBF can better shape and plan for a healthier future. The Healthwatch program has been running for two years, the first being conducted in 2007. To view other MBF Healthwatch findings, go to www.mbf.com.au/Wellness

Sources:

National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, 2007
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2005
Australia: the healthiest country by 2010, National Preventative Health Taskforce, 2009
Monash University, 2008
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2002
Alcohol and your kids, Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Government, 2009 (alcohol.gov.au)
Michael Carr-Gregg (michaelcarr-gregg.com.au)

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