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10 reasons why teenagers aren't that bad
As the British press works itself into a panic about the UK's teenage population - binge-drinking, drug-addled, knife-wielding thugs ready to leap out and stab a granny for a fiver, if recent reports are to be believed - BBC journalist Mark Easton stands up for this much-maligned group:
"10 reasons to cheer our teenagers
There is a real problem with knife-crime in some parts of the UK, let's not pretend otherwise. And there are many other problems concerning young people in this country.
But I thought it might be timely to remind ourselves that youth doesn't necessarily mean yob.
So here are ten reasons to cheer our teenagers:
1. Teenagers are more likely to do voluntary work than people from any other generation. In fact, they are 10 times more likely to be volunteering in our communities than regularly being antisocial in them.
2. More teenagers than ever before are staying on at school after 16 to study.
3. And more than ever are going on to further and higher education.
4. Despite the vilification, young people are far more likely to say England is a good place to grow up in (90%) than adults ( 71%).
5. And yet it is young people who are the most likely to be victims of crime.
6. They work hard at school - a record 62% of teenagers achieved 5 GCSEs grades A-C last year compared with 44% a decade earlier and 26% ten years before that.
7. Nearly two-thirds of 10-to-15-year-olds have helped raise money for charity.
8. According to English schools inspectors, bad behaviour in comprehensives is at its lowest level for at least a decade.
9. 175,000 under 18-year-olds are unpaid carers in the UK with some 13,000 providing more care than a full-time job (50+ hours).
10. In a recent survey more than nine out of ten young people said they thought their schoolwork was important and more than three-quarters enjoyed going to school.
This list doesn't mean teenagers are all little angels. They aren't and they never have been. But it would be a shame to demonise a social group that is actually happier, achieving at a higher level, with better health and more opportunity for travel, sport and cultural activities than any previous generation in our history.
As the British press works itself into a panic about the UK's teenage population - binge-drinking, drug-addled, knife-wielding thugs r... more -
Figures show extent of Scotland's hospital drink cases
Glasgow has Scotland's highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions, new figures have shown.
Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost Scotland £2.25bn every year, with related deaths more than doubling in the past decade.
The statistics showed wide variation across Scotland in the number of people admitted to hospital as a result of alcohol-related illness.
East and south east Glasgow and south east Highland were among the worst areas nationally, parts of which had 3% of the population admitted to hospital at least once because of alcohol. Glasgow has Scotland's highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions, new figures have shown. ... more -
UK's Booziest District?
Graeme Smith hosts a special report to find out where in Britain is the area with the most hazardous drinking. Some surprising results leave Graeme a little worse for wear... Graeme Smith hosts a special report to find out where in Britain is the area with the most hazardous drinking. Some surprising results... more
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Harsh binge drinking adverts roll out
In a bid to curb the ever increasing numbers of binge drinkers on the streets of Britain, a new advertising campaign has been launched which shows the stark reality of going out and drinking 20 vodka and cokes.
One of the messages in the campaign reads, "You wouldn't start a night like this, so why end it that way?" with a girl smearing vomit into her beautiful locks.
Another of the ads shows a man getting ready for his big night out, except he rips out his ear-ring, smashes his face into a wardrobe door, urinates on his shoes and then spills a kebab all down his shirt.
Click the link and see if you think the advertising will have any effect?
In a bid to curb the ever increasing numbers of binge drinkers on the streets of Britain, a new advertising campaign has been launched... more -
Alcohol fuels Scotland's high homicide rate
Scots are almost twice as likely to commit homicide or kill themselves as people anywhere else in Britain, a study has found.
Research published Monday blames alcohol and drug consumption for the markedly higher homicide and suicide rate. The study found that there were 500 killings in Scotland over a five-year period and 5,000 suicides over six years, figures that, proportionately, are almost double those for England and Wales. The victims and culprits were mostly young men and the incidents often involved knives.
The report comes 24 hours before Scottish ministers are expected to announce plans to raise the age for buying alcohol from shops from 18 to 21.
The Scottish government commissioned the study, which was carried out by the University of Manchester. The research team looked at all homicides and suicides in Britain Scots are almost twice as likely to commit homicide or kill themselves as people anywhere else in Britain, a study has found. ... more -
Scotland to raise drink-buying age
The minimum age for buying alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences is to be raised to 21 in Scotland as part of a wide-ranging attempt to clamp down on binge drinking.
The Scottish government is also proposing to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and ban buy-one-get-one free supermarket promotions to discourage drinking and cut irresponsible behaviour.
The minimum price, expected to be about 40p per unit of alcohol, would increase the cost of the strongest, most heavily discounted drinks, such as superstrength cider and lager, by up to 400%.
The minimum age for buying alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences is to be raised to 21 in Scotland as part of a wide-ranging attemp... more -
Hey ladies! Better cut back on the drinking… or you might get ugly!
London's Drug and Alcohol Service for London charity's new campaign against binge drinking is pitting lovely against ugly. It's aimed at women, and warns that drinking heavily will make you ugly like a man... and even have manhands (eew!).
You can see the effects on a picture of yourself on their Bebo page:
http://www.bebo.com/dasl
London's Drug and Alcohol Service for London charity's new campaign against binge drinking is pitting lovely against ugly. It's aimed ... more -
Binge drinking 'damages memory'
Binge drinking teenagers are still at risk of absent-mindedness and forgetfulness days later, a study says.
A team from Northumbria and Keele universities compared 26 binge drinkers with 34 non-bingers in memory tests, and found the drinkers fared worse.
They told the British Psychological Society conference that binge drinking could be harming developing brains.
A spokesman for the charity Addaction said drinking at dangerous levels was putting some young people at risk.
"There is evidence that excess alcohol and binge drinking in particular damages parts of the brain that underpin everyday memory"-
Dr Thomas Heffernan, University of Northumbria
Binge drinking teenagers are still at risk of absent-mindedness and forgetfulness days later, a study says. ... more -
Thong man fined £150
A man who went out into the street wearing a thong back to front has been fined £150 in Perth, Scotland.
David Batchelor, 58, claimed to have left his home wearing the thong, which left part of his genitals exposed, to feed the pigeons a pie.
Witnesses were concerned for the school children in the street at the time and contacted the police.
His lawyer said there was no sexual element to his behaviour and he admitted committing a breach of the peace. A man who went out into the street wearing a thong back to front has been fined £150 in Perth, Scotland. ... more -
24-hour drinking: good. Underage drinking: bad
The British government's review of the 24-hour licensing laws gives the relaxation in opening hours a "7/10 – good, but could do better." The official Culture Department review to be announced today holds that while the laws have given the responsible majority more freedom, this benefit has been matched by only "patchy improvement" in enforcing laws to curb underage drinking and antisocial behavior.
So with the just over average verdict comes a new package of crackdowns for drinkers, shops and off-licenses to address these problems:
· A new "yellow card, red card" alert system for supermarkets, off-licences, pubs and clubs that repeatedly breach the terms of their licences. At present the enforcement authorities only have a "red card" sanction of revoking a licence if there are repeated failures. The "yellow card" sanctions would encourage the authorities to take earlier action. In the example of supermarkets selling to underage drinkers or drunks, they would be restricted to one checkout till only for alcohol sales.
· A sharp increase in fines for drinking in designated public areas which have had a history of antisocial behaviour. The maximum fine for refusing to comply with a police request to stop drinking is to be increased from £500 to £2,500.
· An extension of the use of juvenile acceptable behaviour contracts - short of an Asbo - for drink-related behaviour.
· A curb of underage sales of alcohol in shops through tougher enforcement action. The "three strikes and you're out" penalty against shopkeepers who commit three offences in three months is to be increased to two in three months.
· The drinks industry taking action to stop irresponsible promotions.
What do you think about the licensing laws and this package of new measures? The British government's review of the 24-hour licensing laws gives the relaxation in opening hours a "7/10 – good, but could do bette... more -
Binge Drinking On The Rise In Mediterranean Countries, Study Suggests
Isn't binge drinking on the rise in people ages 18-35 too?
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Vermont latest to eye lower drinking age
More than two decades after the country established a uniform drinking age of 21, a nascent movement is afoot to allow 18- to 20-year-olds to legally buy alcohol under some circumstances. More than two decades after the country established a uniform drinking age of 21, a nascent movement is afoot to allow 18- to 20-year-... more
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UK binge culture
Britain has a lower drinking age than the US and they still have a binge problem. According to the BBC article, beginning at age 12 drinkers begin to outnumber non-drinkers. Again, it's the culture, not the laws.
I don't think it's about making something less taboo, but about instilling a culture of responsibility or, at least, not celebrating people who abuse alcohol regularly. Britain has a lower drinking age than the US and they still have a binge problem. According to the BBC article, beginning at age 12 d... more -
I Got Drunk on Absinthe Yesterday.
Absinthe is now legal in the United States Here's a drink-by-drink account of my first run in with it...
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Can 'responsible pricing' solve irresponsible drinking?
Tesco is calling on the government to introduce a law that would ensure alcohol be priced 'responsibly' as a measure to curb the rise in alcohol abuse and alcohol-related crime. By responsible pricing, they mean higher prices and no more offers of 8 tall boys for the price of 2.
"Tesco argues that the issue can only be dealt with through Government action as the supermarkets are barred by competition laws from taking action together to raise prices."
Is making alcohol more expensive really going to make a difference in what is being reported as a nation's "spiralling" alcohol abuse? Tesco is calling on the government to introduce a law that would ensure alcohol be priced 'responsibly' as a measure to curb the rise ... more -
I’m fine to drive
"I've driven home like this hundreds of times before." "I just need to get it out of my system." "I'll sober up when I'm behind the wheel." How many times have you heard that before? Check out this fantastic ad campaign launched in South Africa to help visualize people's drunkenness before it's too late. "I've driven home like this hundreds of times before." "I just need to get it out of my system." "I'll sober up when I'm behind the wh... more
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The Binging Brits
Nothing like ringing in 2008 lying face down on a dirty street. If you were lucky enough to spend New Year's Eve in Cardiff, you would have had that chance. Revelers were throwing back so many pints many lost their clothing and their dignity. All but for a lone reveler who managed to pass out while still holding his pint upright. Now, thats a great way to start 2008! Nothing like ringing in 2008 lying face down on a dirty street. If you were lucky enough to spend New Year's Eve in Cardiff, you would... more
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Long Live Your Damaged Liver
Good news for heavy drinkers and alcoholics. A drug that reverses severe liver damage could be used to treat disease in those who find it impossible to give up alcohol. Scientists developed the drug after discovering a way to prevent the formation of excessive scar tissue caused by cirrhosis, hepatitis and other medical conditions.
To their surprise the drug not only slowed progression of the disease but also reversed damage to the organ.
The drug could have a profound impact on public health if it is proven to work in wider clinical trials. In Britain the rise in binge drinking has led to soaring rates of liver disease since the 1960s, with doctors warning cirrhosis is commonplace among men and women in their 20s and 30s. Good news for heavy drinkers and alcoholics. A drug that reverses severe liver damage could be used to treat disease in those who find... more -
Who Says Binge Drinking Affects Your Thinking?
These guys have come up with, quite possibly, what could be the smartest way to get around the binge drinking debate, whilst also managing to squash their company's liability issues regarding their consumption of alcoholic beverages. They were told they were permitted to drink alcohol, but only one drink per person!
True Genius! These guys have come up with, quite possibly, what could be the smartest way to get around the binge drinking debate, whilst also mana... more -
A Rough Guide to England
A friend of mine put this together. He filmed all of the footage himself from a friend's flat in Bradford. Instead of getting a film on a quiet night in, they used to just get a few beers and watch the carnage ensue. It's Attenborough at his finest.
Has anyone seen nights like this in the UK? Post your pictures and videos of Britain's decaying drinking culture A friend of mine put this together. He filmed all of the footage himself from a friend's flat in Bradford. Instead of getting a film o... more
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Binge Drinking
