Factors associated with the prevalence of adolescent binge drinking in the urban areas of Greater Manchester.

BACKGROUND

Binge drinking in adolescents is a serious problem that has been recognised for over a generation. On average 61% of students in the European region had consumed alcohol in the last 30 days and 43% had participated in binge drinking in the same period. This article investigates the prevalence of adolescent binge drinking and the factors associated with this prevalence in urban areas of Greater Manchester.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the youth survey of the European Urban Health Indicator System 2 project. Study participants were school students aged 14-16 from the urban areas of Greater Manchester. The main outcome measures were adolescent binge drinking prevalence in Greater Manchester and the socio-demographic factors influencing it.

RESULTS

Greater Manchester had an adolescent binge drinking prevalence of 49.8%. Individual factors associated with increased prevalence of binge drinking were: age, substance use, school performance and early initiation of drinking (all significant at χ2, P < 0.05). Peer factors associated with increased prevalence of binge drinking were spending evenings with friends, keeping in touch with friends, having a good relationship with peers and self-reported bullying behaviours (all significant at χ2, P < 0.05). Family support lowered the prevalence of adolescent binge drinking. Conduct problems, family affluence and perceived local crime increased the prevalence of adolescent binge drinking.

CONCLUSIONS

Binge drinking is highly prevalent in Greater Manchester adolescents. Various individual, peer-related, family-related and community-related factors were associated with this problem. Any attempt to tackle the prevalence of adolescent binge drinking must take into account all of these factors.