Know the risks of drinking alcohol underage
Underage drinking puts children and young people at increased risk of physical, mental, emotional and social harm.
Drinking alcohol has a range of short- and long-term physical and mental health effects – no matter what your age. But for underage drinkers, there are additional consequences that can affect health, development and potentially getting into trouble with the law.
This guide sets out these risks and how they can impact you or someone you care about, as well as offering support and advice.
In England alone, more than 10,000 under-18s were admitted to hospital because of alcohol in the two years starting April 2017.1
Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people
The risks associated with underage drinking are why the UK Chief Medical Officers recommend an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children do drink alcohol, it should not be until at least 15 years of age.
There’s often debate about whether it’s OK to let children have a small amount of alcohol to try But there’s no scientific evidence to indicate this gives children a lower-risk approach to drinking in later life.2
Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health. Not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.
Further advice for young people aged 15 to 17
The Chief Medical Officers guidance also recommends that if young people aged 15 to 17 years consume any alcohol, it should always be with the guidance of a parent or carer or in a supervised environment.
Any drinking for this age group should be infrequent, with no binge drinking, and certainly on no more than one day a week. It’s important to never exceed the UK Chief Medical Officers' low risk drinking guidelines (adult men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week).
You can read the full guidance in the Chief Medical Officer for England’s report 'Guidance on the Consumption of Alcohol by Young People’.
Further guidance for young people in Northern Ireland is available in 'You, your child and alcohol' from the Public Health Agency.
Health risks of underage drinking
Alcohol poisoning
If you think someone might be experiencing alcohol poisoning - even if you have doubts – put them on their side (ideally in the recovery position) and call 999 for an ambulance.
Young people’s typically lower body weight and limited ability to process (or ‘metabolise’) alcohol mean they can become dangerously intoxicated very quickly (known as ‘acute intoxication’). This puts young people at increased risk of alcohol poisoning.3,4
This can be extremely dangerous. Alcohol poisoning seriously affects the parts of the brain that control balance and speech, as well as the nerves that control breathing and heartbeat. It can stop your gag reflex from working, putting you at serious risk of choking to death, especially if you vomit.
Expansion of blood vessels near the skin caused by alcohol, lack of perception of danger and falling asleep without adequate protection in cold weather can all lower body temperature, leading to hypothermia.
Accidents and injuries
Just as with adults, drinking alcohol can reduce a child’s mental and physical abilities while they are under the influence. This affects judgment and co-ordination – which can lead to accidents and injuries.
Research shows adolescents who tested positive for alcohol are more likely to get injured or have accidents than non-drinkers.5 In fact, in England alone, more than 10,000 under-18s were admitted to hospital because of alcohol in the two years starting April 2017.6
Liver damage
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing liver disease - young people who drink regularly are at risk, and can start to damage their liver without realising.
The warning signs only show after a few years. In the UK, significant numbers of people are now dying with alcoholic-related liver disease in their twenties.7
Other harms
Research shows that underage drinkers are more likely to suffer from a range of health issues including weight change, disturbed sleep and headaches.8
Brain development and education
During childhood and teenage years, the brain and body are still developing. Alcohol – even small amounts - can affect memory function, reactions, learning ability and attention span.9
Evidence also reveals that children who start to drink by age 13 are more likely to go on to have worse grades, to skip school and even to be excluded from school.10
Mental health
More than four out of ten (43%) young people who drink alcohol report they are drinking to cope in some way. This includes reasons such as believing it can ‘cheer themselves up’ or help them to ‘forget about problems’.11
Evidence also points to alcohol misuse and mental health problems being closely related.12
Vulnerability, substance abuse and the law
Vulnerability
Puberty is often a very tricky time for kids – both emotionally and physically. A young person’s natural tendency to experiment and take risks is increased.
Drinking alcohol can put children and young people in vulnerable or dangerous situations. For example, among 10–17 year-olds who have ever had an alcoholic drink, 12% experienced serious harm (like trouble with the police, being a victim of crime, being taken to hospital or getting into a fight) because of their drinking.13
Other substances
While excessive drinking by adolescents is a problem in its own right, for some it’s also linked to other risky harmful behaviours – like taking illegal drugs or accessing an adult’s prescription medication.
Compared to non-drinkers, underage drinkers are more likely to smoke tobacco, use cannabis or use other hard drugs.14
The law
There are several laws in the UK relating to buying and consuming alcohol for under-18s. For example, it’s against the law for under-18s to buy or to be sold alcohol anywhere in the UK – it could result in a criminal record or a fine.
Combined with the negative effect alcohol can have on the ability to judge risks15 and its links to aggression,16 drinking underage can make it more likely for a young person to get in trouble with the law.
Getting a criminal record could affect future job prospects and make it more difficult to travel to countries like the USA.
How to talk to a child about drinking
Find advice and tips on how and why you should talk to your children about drinking and the impact it could have on their health and wellbeing.
How to talk to your child about alcohol
Top tips for talking to your child about alcohol.
Find out more
Prevent your child from drinking
Strategies to help prevent your child drinking alcohol underage.
Find out more
Understand why some young people drink alcohol
Understanding why your child may drink alcohol can help you influence your child to enjoy an alcohol-free childhood
Find out more
Teenage drinking
Get the advice and information you need on teenage drinking and what to do if you are worried about underage drinking.
Find out more
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References
[3] ibid
Last Reviewed: 6th April 2022
Next Review due: 6th April 2025