Young People, Alcohol and Supervision Orders
| Author | Stewart Collins |
| Published date | 01 December 2003 |
| Date | 01 December 2003 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/147322540300300304 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Young People, Alcohol and Supervision Orders
Stewart Collins
Correspondence: Stewart Collins, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Applied Community
Studies, University of Wales Bangor, Main Arts Building, Bangor, Gwynedd.
Email: sos00fVbangor.ac.uk
Abstract
Whilst the majority of adolescents drink responsibly and sensibly there is a high incidence
of alcohol problems amongst some young people. As children grow into their teenage
years, heavy drinking and drinking problems will increase, although many adolescents do
not perceive their behaviour to be problematic. In fact, it is known that many teenagers
have been in trouble with the police and the courts after drinking. The focus of this article
is upon young people aged under 18, alcohol problems, offending and supervision orders.
It is recognised that while alcohol does not in itself necessarily cause crime, there is a
strong association between alcohol and offending. Many adolescents are placed on
Supervision Orders as a result of criminal proceedings. Some of these offences, especially
those committed by persistent offenders, are likely to have occurred as a result of
intoxication or heavy drinking. Youth Offending Team workers attempt to make effective
interventions in these situations, but may experience problems in doing so. Some reasons
for this are analysed and some ways forward are suggested.
Young People and Alcohol
When considering drinking by young people in the United Kingdom it is difficult to
avoid media hype, which has made strident claims for many years about the extremes
of drinking behaviour by young people. Adolescent drinking is often seen as part of
an overall breakdown in the discipline and fabric of society and ‘moral panic’is often
associated with this (Cohen, 1971; May, 1992). But such fears are not new and have
existed for many years. For example:
Legislation at the turn of the century signalled widespread worry about the exposure of children
to alcohol. The very purpose of the formation of the Band of Hope was the instruction of boys
and girls on the properties of alcohol and its consumption and by 1901 it was reported that in
the United Kingdom there were 28,894 local societies, with a total membership of 3,536,000
boys and girls.
(British Medical Association, 1986: 1)
There is a tendency to see all youthful drinking as problematic especially that which
takes place in groups and in public places. Alcohol is a legal drug. It is easily available
and it is used in a widespread way by many adults to relax and celebrate significant
occasions. Young people grow up in a drinking society, a society where drinking occurs
frequently and is generally regarded as both a legitimate and enjoyable activity (Plant
and Plant, 1992). They can purchase drink readily and very few are convicted for
under-age purchase of alcohol. In fact, the number of young people found guilty of
purchasing alcohol under age in England and Wales has fallen from 1,925 in 1985 to
370 in 1993 and to 351 in 1995 (Lister-Sharp, 1994; Home Office, 1997). Very high
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