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Welsh teens 'get drunk younger' Children in Wales 'drunk younger'
(11 minutes later)
More Welsh teenagers have been drunk at least two times by the age of 13 than anywhere else in the western world, the World Health Organisation has found. More young people in Wales have been drunk at least twice by the age of 13 than anywhere else in the western world, a survey has found.
A survey on countries in Europe and North America put Wales at the top of the list, ahead of Scotland, Estonia, England and Lithuania. The World Health Organisation survey of Europe and North America put Wales at the top of the list, ahead of Scotland, Estonia, England and Lithuania.
The health behaviour study questioned 250,000 11, 12 and 15-year-olds.The health behaviour study questioned 250,000 11, 12 and 15-year-olds.
It looked at aspects of health including drinking, weight, smoking, school pressures and bullying. It looked at aspects of health, including drinking, weight, smoking, school pressures and bullying.
The survey conducted in 2005-6 across 40 countries found more 15-year-old girls in Wales had tried cannabis than anywhere else in Europe. The survey conducted in 2005-6 across 40 countries also found more 15-year-old girls in Wales had tried cannabis than anywhere else in Europe.
One in five 11-year-old girls in Wales are trying to lose weight, as are a quarter of 13-year-old girls and nearly a third of girls aged 15. Among girls, one in five 11-year-olds in Wales are trying to lose weight, as are a quarter of 13-year-olds and nearly a third aged 15.
Over a third of 15-year-old girls and a quarter of 15-year-old boys in Wales say they tried smoking at age 13 or younger, figures which are similar to Scotland but worse than England. More than a third of 15-year-old girls and a quarter of 15-year-old boys in Wales say they tried smoking at 13 or younger, figures which are similar to Scotland but higher than England.
Reducing the underage consumption of alcohol is a key priority in Wales Spokesperson for the Chief Medical Officer for Wales Reducing the underage consumption of alcohol is a key priority in Wales Spokesperson for the chief medical officer for Wales, Tony Jewell
The survey found schoolchildren in England and Wales were under more pressure than almost every other country which took part. The survey found children in England and Wales were under more pressure than almost every other country which took part.
Researchers said children in the UK rated their own health "poorly" compared to other countries, and found it harder to talk to their parents.Researchers said children in the UK rated their own health "poorly" compared to other countries, and found it harder to talk to their parents.
A spokesperson for the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, said: "We welcome today's report by the World Health Organisation and look forward to studying in greater detail its findings. A spokesperson for the chief medical officer for Wales, Tony Jewell, said: "Reports with a global outlook, such as this, play a vital role in highlighting key health matters that occur here in Wales and support the minister and officials to tailor effective policy to tackle such issues.
"Reports with a global outlook, such as this, play a vital role in highlighting key health matters that occur here in Wales and support the minister and officials to tailor effective policy to tackle such issues.
"Reducing the underage consumption of alcohol is a key priority in Wales."Reducing the underage consumption of alcohol is a key priority in Wales.
"The increasing culture of binge drinking in Wales' youngsters leads to greater risk of injury, unsafe sex, and serious health issues in later life that will inevitably put greater pressure on the NHS."The increasing culture of binge drinking in Wales' youngsters leads to greater risk of injury, unsafe sex, and serious health issues in later life that will inevitably put greater pressure on the NHS.
"The Welsh Assembly Government launched a 10 year substance misuse strategy in February. By 2010-11, £27 million a year will be funded to the strategy which will place a significant focus on the inappropriate and risky use of alcohol, instances of which are higher in Wales than most other countries, although less so than in recent years." "The Welsh Assembly Government launched a 10-year substance misuse strategy in February. By 2010-11, £27m a year will be funded to the strategy which will place a significant focus on the inappropriate and risky use of alcohol, instances of which are higher in Wales than most other countries, although less so than in recent years."