By: SUZY TURNER
A study of 12,000 teenagers aged between 14 and 17 in the northwest of England points to a decrease in the number alcohol drinkers compared to the previous two years.
In 2005, 12 per cent of teenagers questioned said they never drink and last year this figure had increased to 17 per cent.
The Trading Standards survey suggests the drop is due to new regulations making it more difficult for teens to obtain alcohol. Experts, however, still believe there is room for improvement.
The Director of the Centre for Public Health, said: “It’s very positive that we have seen such a dramatic drop in kids buying their own alcohol. But better regulation of underage sales now needs to be matched by a culture change that will stop those children from wanting to buy alcohol in the first place, and that’s something we’re still not seeing”.
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