Under-age drinking 'on the rise'

Youngsters in outer London get drunk more than those in inner boroughs

About 2,000 under-age drinkers in London are receiving treatment for alcohol dependence, a report has said.

The report by the London Assembly (LA) reveals children aged between 11 and 15 are drinking the equivalent of 180,000 bottles of lager every week.

The Too Much Too Young? report said London's youngsters drink less than their peers in England but more than a third of regular drinkers.

Lack of leadership means tackling the problem is not effective, it said.

The 10-month investigation by the LA also found alcohol-related hospital admissions have almost doubled in recent years and calls to the London Ambulance Service relating to young people drinking have increased 27% in four years.

Young people's drinking is having serious repercussions on their health and on public services James Cleverly AM

The report said young women aged 11-15 have drinking habits similar to those of their male peers.

Hospital admissions for these females are almost double those for men of the same age because of their lower tolerance of alcohol.

And young people living in outer London are more likely to drink and get drunk than those in inner boroughs.

James Cleverly AM, chair of the London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee, said: "We are very concerned by our findings that young Londoners are drinking more and more often than a few years ago.

"Young people's drinking is having serious repercussions on their health and on public services."

The report recommends "alcohol-harm reduction champions" should be appointed in boroughs where alcohol-specific hospital admissions for young people - currently Kingston and Sutton - are higher than the national average.