Youth are particularly susceptible to the harms caused by alcohol consumption. Alcohol has been shown to have harmful effects on the developing brain. Regular use of alcohol has a long-term negative effect on memory and learning. It is a strong agent of disinhibition putting youth at risk of accidents, violence, unsafe sex and absenteeism from classes. Early initiation of drinking is also shown to be a powerful predictor of alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse in later life. Therefore, protecting our youth from alcohol-related harm is a public health priority of our society.
Local Statistics on Alcohol Use among Youth
(1) Proportion of alcohol drinking among upper primary students by sex , in the school year 2008/09, 2011/12 and 2014/15
|
|
2008/09
|
2011/12
|
2014/15
|
|
Drinking in past 30 days
|
Drinking in past 12 months
|
Ever drinking
|
Drinking in past 30 days
|
Drinking in past 12 months
|
Ever drinking
|
Drinking in past 30 days
|
Drinking in past 12 months
|
Ever drinking
|
|
Male
|
11.9%
|
23.6%
|
44.0%
|
5.5%
|
16.8%
|
31.5%
|
4.7%
|
15.5%
|
28.9%
|
|
Female
|
8.1%
|
17.8%
|
35.4%
|
3.6%
|
12.3%
|
25.3%
|
3.0%
|
11.3%
|
22.9%
|
|
Overall
|
10.1%
|
20.9%
|
40.1%
|
4.6%
|
14.5%
|
28.3%
|
3.9%
|
13.4%
|
26.0%
|
(2) Proportion of alcohol drinking among secondary students by sex, in the school year 2004/05, 2008/09, 2011/12 and 2014/15
|
|
2004/05
|
2008/09
|
2011/12
|
2014/15
|
|
Drinking in past 30 days
|
Drinking in past 12 months
|
Ever drinking
|
Drinking in past 30 days
|
Drinking in past 12 months
|
Ever drinking
|
Drinking in past 30 days
|
Drinking in past 12 months
|
Ever drinking
|
Drinking in past 30 days
|
Drinking in past 12 months
|
Ever drinking
|
|
Male
|
27.7%
|
NA
|
67.0%
|
26.2%
|
44.9%
|
65.2%
|
20.7%
|
43.6%
|
59.3%
|
19.4%
|
40.2%
|
57.3%
|
|
Female
|
23.4%
|
NA
|
65.9%
|
22.1%
|
43.0%
|
64.9%
|
16.7%
|
41.4%
|
58.7%
|
15.9%
|
38.2%
|
56.3%
|
|
Overall
|
25.7%
|
NA
|
66.5%
|
24.2%
|
43.4%
|
64.9%
|
18.7%
|
42.6%
|
59.0%
|
17.7%
|
39.2%
|
56.8%
|
Notes:
- Alcohol refers to all alcoholic beverages, including shandy, cooler, beer, wine and spirits.
- Percentages are calculated based on students in the respective education levels covered by the survey.
- Upper primary students refer to students from primary 4 to 6 of Local Primary Schools and year 5 to 6 of international primary schools.
- Secondary students refer to students from secondary 1 to 7 of local secondary schools (or secondary 1 to 6 students under the New Senior Secondary Curriculum) and year 7 to 13 of international secondary schools.
- As there were slight differences in questionnaire and research methodology for surveys in different years, direct comparison of the data should be done with caution.
Sources of data:
The 2004/05, 2008/09, 2011/12 and 2014/15 Surveys of Drug Use among Students. Hong Kong SAR: Narcotics Division, Security Bureau.