News Demo 1

Underage Drinking

After reports of an underage girl being served alcohol in a New Forest hotel, and the rise of liver disease in young people, is underage drinking getting worse? 

Challenge 21 is a campaign to stop underage drinking. Bars, pubs and clubs have the option to sign up and receive information and training so they adhere to the rules. 

But how does it work? Challenge 21 makes staff selling alcohol ask for identification for proof of age if they look under 21. Not only is the campaign tackling underage drinking it protects pubs, clubs and supermarkets from selling alcohol to minors. 

But after the report in The Southern Daily Echo revealed that a 15-year-old girl was served alcohol at a hotel in the New Forest is the campaign working?

“The campaign works, but it’s voluntary”

8 out of 10 teenagers admitted to have tried alcohol by the age of 15. And although the media paints an exaggerated picture of how many minors drink alcohol, statistics from Drinkaware.com show there are fewer kids drinking, but the ones who do, do it more frequently. What kids don't understand is that drinking heavily from a young age can cause physical and mental health problems when they're older. 

Hana was 14 when she started drinking alcohol, but it wasn't the odd drink here and there, she found herself drinking straight vodka, and a lot of it. It wasn't until she ended up in hospital after her 17th birthday celebrations she stopped. 'I was unconscious and vomiting, then woke up and realised I was on the paediatric ward because I was under age. I never used to get my alcohol from shops or pubs, so Challenge 21 isn’t working.' 

Olivia Ellenger, Staff trainer from Challenge 21 believes it is working, and the campaign is extremely popular, “It works, but it’s voluntary”.

Luckily Hana hasn't seen any long-term effects of drinking alcohol but many do. Liver disease is on the rise and many people can face addiction and mental health issues as a result of prolonged drinking. 

It is schemes like Challenge 21, which will help but without proper legislation backing them, is it being used to its full potential?



AprilSLB