Adolescents' reports of their illicit alcohol purchases

Aims: The main aim of this study was to investigate self-reports of the cas e with which British adolescents are able to purchase alcohol from differen t types of outlet. Design, setting, subjects: The study involved a classroom survey of pupils (n = 6980, ages 11-16) attending 11 secondary schools, located in four area s of England. Measures: Respondents completed a confidential questionnaire assessing alco hol purchasing behaviour, alcohol consumption and related factors. Findings: Overall, 37% of the sample were regular (weekly) drinkers, and 21 % of the sample (56% of drinkers) reported buying alcohol; over 70% of drin kers had at some time attempted to buy alcohol. These figures increased lin early with age. Among the current alcohol buyers, alcohol was purchased to a roughly equal extent in off-licences, corner shops and pubs, with very li ttle use of supermarkets; the use of pubs increased with age, while the use of other outlets, particularly corner shops decreased with age. Just over half of drinkers had been refused sale; this was reported to occur a little less frequently in corner shops than in the other types of outlet. Most of the buyers (67%) were never or very rarely asked their age; girls were les s likely to be challenged on age than boys. Few respondents were familiar w ith the drinks industry's 'Prove-It' proof of age card. Respondents reporte d low levels of anxiety or guilt in relation to alcohol purchase, but tende d to avoid outlets where they were likely to be challenged. Conclusions: Alcohol appears to be readily available, from a variety of dif ferent types of outlet, to under-aged adolescents who wish to purchase it. Children attempting to buy alcohol are rarely challenged on their age, and little use is being made of the 'Prove It' card, at least in the areas wher e this study took place.