Irish Study Reveals That Over A Quarter Of Kids In Fifth And Sixth Year Are “Problem Drinkers”

A new study has revealed that over a quarter of kids in fifth and sixth year of secondary school have been classified as “problem drinkers”.

The study, carried out by psychologists at UCD, shows that nearly 10 per cent of senior students are consuming dangerous levels of alcohol.

The statistics were revealed after a study of 6,000 teenagers at 72 random schools around the country.

The facts included:

A fifth of students have been found to be suffering moderate to sever depression, aggravated by too much drink

Sixteen per cent of those questioned said they had injured themselves or somebody else when drinking alcohol

and

83 per cent of kids in first year of school reported never having drank alcohol, but by sixth year that had plummeted to just 8.5 per cent.

The study showed that just 8.5 per cent of kids in 6th year had not drank alcohol.

The study also revealed that, by fifth year, more than a third of teens are binge drinking on a monthly basis.

The researchers admitted it is unclear as to whether poor mental health prompted the drinking habit or if it was the other way around. They did say the issue needs to be tackled.