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Young people log on to learn about the health effects of alcohol
The serious health effects that alcohol can have on young people have been highlighted through a competition run by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA).
Six out of 10 young people (aged 11–16) in Northern Ireland have had an alcoholic drink and research shows that the average age for young people to have their first drink here is 11 years.1
The competition, run through the HPA’s health website aimed at 11–14 year olds: www.up-2-you.net is a way of encouraging young people to find out the real facts about alcohol and dispel some of the myths that can often circulate among this age group.
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Young people need to be more aware of health issues so that they can make informed choices about their own health. They are more at risk from the effects of alcohol than adults because their bodies are still developing and they are less able to control their drinking, which may lead them to taking unnecessary risks.
“Alcohol can affect young people more quickly than adults and can cause damage to parts of the brain that control memory, learning and behaviour. In addition, alcohol is high in calories and can be a factor in unwanted weight gain. These are just some of the facts that young people may be surprised to learn on www.up-2-you.net”
Ten lucky winners were picked from over 3,600 competition entries, the most entries received yet in the annual competition.
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Notes to the editor
Prizes included two iPod nanos, two camera mobile phones and six runner-up prizes of vouchers for a leading clothes or sports shop. Entrants to the competition had to search www.up-2-you.net for answers to questions based on the alcohol and smoking sections.
For media enquiries contact:
Rosie McGaughey at the HPA on Tel: 028 9031 1611.
1 Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland. Drinking behaviour among young people in Northern Ireland: secondary analysis of alcohol data from 1997 to 2003. Belfast: HPA, October 2005.
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