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.¹ But for underage drinkers, there are additional consequences that can affect health, development, and potentially getting in trouble with the law.^2,3

Between 2021/22 and 2023/24, there were 8,043 hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions among under 18s.⁴

Official guidance for children and young people

The risks associated with underage drinking are why the UK Chief Medical Officers say 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.⁵

There’s often a debate about whether it’s ok to let children have a small amount of alcohol to try. But there’s no scientific evidence which says this gives children a lower-risk approach to drinking in later life.⁶

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 do drink 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.⁷ 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).⁸

Health risks of underage drinking

Alcohol poisoning

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’).⁹ This puts young people at increased risk of alcohol poisoning.^10.11

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.¹²

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 and lead to hypothermia.^13,14

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.

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.¹⁵

Liver damage

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing liver disease¹⁶ – 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.

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.¹⁷

Brain development, education, and mental health

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.^18,19

A study has shown that alcohol is linked to worse school performance and students dropping out at high school.^20,21

Mental health

More than 50% of pupils aged 11 to 15 in England believe that pupils their age drink alcohol because it helps them to forget about their problems.²²

Evidence also points to alcohol misuse and mental health problems being closely related.²³

Vulnerability, substance abuse, and the law

Vulnerability

Puberty is often a very tricky time for young people – 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. 7% of pupils aged 11 to 15 in England who were drunk in the last four weeks said they had been in a fight, 4% said they had been in trouble with the police and 1% were taken to hospital.²⁴

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.²⁵

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.²⁶

Combined with the negative effect alcohol can have on the ability to judge risks²⁷ and its links to aggression,²⁸ drinking underage can make it more likely for a young person to get in trouble with the law.²⁹

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 alcohol

Find advice and tips on how and why you should talk to your children about alcohol and the impact it could have on their health and wellbeing.

External links to guidance on alcohol and young people

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.

References

[1] Department of Health (2016). UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf

[2] Bonnie, R. J., O’Connell, M. E., & Underage Drinking, N. R. C. (US) and I. of M. (US) C. on D. a S. to R. and P. (2004). Consequences of Underage Drinking. In Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK37591/

[3] Lees, B., Meredith, L. R., Kirkland, A. E., Bryant, B. E., & Squeglia, L. M. (2020). Effect of alcohol use on the adolescent brain and behavior. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 192, 172906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172906

[4] Department of Health & Social Care. Fingertips Public Health profiles. Alcohol Profile. [Accessed 22/8/25]. Available at: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/local-alcohol-profiles

[5] Department of Health. Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England (December 2009). [Accessed 22/8/25]. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6266dd208fa8f523bf22abec/cmo-alcohol-guidance-17122009.pdf

[6] Department of Health. Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England (December 2009). [Accessed 22/8/25]. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6266dd208fa8f523bf22abec/cmo-alcohol-guidance-17122009.pdf

[7] Department of Health. Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England (December 2009). [Accessed 22/8/25]. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6266dd208fa8f523bf22abec/cmo-alcohol-guidance-17122009.pdf

[8] Department of Health (2016). UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf

[9] Chung, T., Creswell, K. G., Bachrach, R., Clark, D. B., & Martin, C. S. (2018). Adolescent Binge Drinking. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 39(1), 5–15.

[10] Department of Health. Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England (December 2009). [Accessed 22/8/25]. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6266dd208fa8f523bf22abec/cmo-alcohol-guidance-17122009.pdf

[11] Healey, C., Rahman, A., Faizal, M. and Kinderman, P. (2014). Underage drinking in the UK: changing trends, impact and interventions. A rapid evidence synthesis. International Journal of Drug Policy, 25(1), 124-132.

[12] NHS website. Alcohol poisoning. (11 January 2023). [Accessed 28/7/25]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-poisoning/

[13] Department of Health (2016). UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf

[14] Newbury-Birch, D., Gilvarry, E., McArdle, P., Ramesh, V., Stewart, S., Walker, J., Avery, L., Beyer, F., Brown, N., Jackson, K., Lock, C. A., McGovern, R., & Kaner, E. (2009). Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Young People: A Review of Reviews. Available at: https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/10929/1/Review%20of%20existing%20reviews%20%28Full%29.pdf

[15] Chung, T., Creswell, K. G., Bachrach, R., Clark, D. B., & Martin, C. S. (2018). Adolescent Binge Drinking. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 39(1), 5–15.

[16] NHS website. Alcohol-related liver disease. (20 September 2022). [Accessed 28/7/25]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-related-liver-disease-arld/

[17] Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Young People: A Systematic Review of Published Reviews. (April 2008). [Accessed 28/7/25]. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242623312_Impact_of_Alcohol_Consumption_on_Young_People_A_systematic_review_of_published_reviews

[18] Clark et al, 2008. Alcohol, Psychological Dysregulation, and Adolescent Brain Development. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Vol. 32, No. 3 375-384; Newbury-Birch et al, 2008. Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Young People: A Systematic Review of Published Reviews. Department for Children Schools and Families. Research Report DCSF-RR067.

[19] Lees, B., Meredith, L. R., Kirkland, A. E., Bryant, B. E., & Squeglia, L. M. (2020). Effect of alcohol use on the adolescent brain and behavior. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 192, 172906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172906

[20] Hjarnaa, L., Møller, S. P., Curtis, A. B., Becker, U., Andersen, O., Torvik, F. A., & Tolstrup, J. S. (2023). Alcohol Intake and Academic Performance and Dropout in High School: A Prospective Cohort Study in 65,233 Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 73(6), 1083–1092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.008

[21] Newbury-Birch, D., Gilvarry, E., McArdle, P., Ramesh, V., Stewart, S., Walker, J., Avery, L., Beyer, F., Brown, N., Jackson, K., Lock, C. A., McGovern, R., & Kaner, E. (2009). Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Young People: A Review of Reviews. Available at: https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/10929/1/Review%20of%20existing%20reviews%20%28Full%29.pdf

[22] NHS. (2019). Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2018. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/smoking-drinking-and-drug-use-among-young-people-in-england

[23] Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Young People: A Systematic Review of Published Reviews. (April 2008). [Accessed 28/7/25]. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242623312_Impact_of_Alcohol_Consumption_on_Young_People_A_systematic_review_of_published_reviews

[24] NHS. (2024). Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/smoking-drinking-and-drug-use-among-young-people-in-england

[25] Jackson, K. M., Sher, K. J., Cooper, M. L., & Wood, P. K. (2002). Adolescent alcohol and tobacco use: Onset, persistence and trajectories of use across two samples. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 97(5), 517–531. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00082.x

[26] Gov.uk. Alcohol and young people. [Accessed 29/7/25]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law

[27] Sindelar et al (2004) Adolescent Alcohol Use and Injury: A Summary and Critical Review of the Literature.

[28] Heinz, A.J., Beck, A., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Sterzer, P. and Heinz, A. (2011). Cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol-related aggression. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12(7), 400-413.

[29] Bonnie, R. J., O’Connell, M. E., & Underage Drinking, N. R. C. (US) and I. of M. (US) C. on D. a S. to R. and P. (2004). Consequences of Underage Drinking. In Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK37591/

Last Reviewed: 23rd October 2025

Next Review due: 23rd October 2028

Newsletter