Learning Objective #1: Demonstrate understanding of the importance of current health information

Learning Objective #2: Understand other influences on adolescent alcohol consumption in order that they can make education relevant and believable

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Two fairly recent UK Government public health white papers one in 1992 (The Health of the Nation) (DoH, 1992) and the other in 1999 (Saving Lives-Our Healthier Nation) (DoH,1999), have highlighted the significant effect that alcohol can have on health breakdown. The documents identified the importance of alcohol consumption and adolescent health, which included the influence of the media on that consumption. Vousden (1998) pointed out in his study that 10% of boys and 8% of girls aged under sixteen are drinking more than adult limits and that 1,000 children under fifteen years are admitted to hospital each year with acute alcoholic poisoning that requires emergency treatment. The study was undertaken to describe the influence of the media upon the consumption of alcohol of thirteen adolescents (aged between 12-18 years). The adolescents were all either attending school or sixth form college and were all under the legal age to consume alcohol, but significantly, all bar one young adult had tasted alcohol or consumed alcohol on a regular basis. A qualitative approach, based on phenomenological methodology was utilised to allow their personal views to be expressed. Taped, semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analysed for themes. One of the main emerging themes of the study was that of alcohol education for adolescents or lack of it!! The study highlighted that the very people who should be educating young people, often, did not have the knowledge or resources to provide health education.