News / Underage drinking
A HIGHER proportion of teenagers in Shetland are starting to drink alcohol at an early age than anywhere else in Scotland.
In a short report presented to the islands area licensing board on Tuesday morning, chief constable Stephen House writes that offending in relation to licensing is low in Shetland.
But quoting from a 2013 survey on adolescent’s lifestyle and substance use, the board meeting heard that 11 percent of 13 year olds and 22 per cent of 15 year olds in Shetland reported that they usually drink once a week.
These are significantly higher figures than those from across the Highlands where the data suggests that one per cent of 13 year olds and nine per cent of 15 year olds usually drink once a week.
The report also highlights that there has been an increase in the number of 13 to 15 year olds whose parents or guardians allow them to drink at home.
The proportion of 15 year olds in Shetland who have ever tried an alcoholic drink was 89 percent in 2013, significantly higher than across the Highlands area (72 per cent) and the Scottish average (70 per cent).
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