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|
2003 Safe & Drug-Free
Schools Report - Alcohol
and Liquor
|
|
Research
seems to indicate that experiences with beer and wine are
widespread, especially among older students. Further, attitudes appear to be accepting of beer and wine.
Of course, beer and wine are widely consumed by many
parents and other adults, are heavily advertised and readily
available at retail outlets.
It appears youth are getting the message that drinking beer
and wine is relatively safe and socially acceptable.
Note that
about one in ten eighth graders drink beer or wine monthly and
that a similar number of tenth graders consume weekly.
|
Safe & Drug-Free Schools Report Table of Contents |
|
Overview
Highlights
School Safety |
Research Findings:
Smoking
Smokeless Tobacco
Pot
Illegal Drugs
Huffing and Sniffing
Alcohol |
I drink
beer & wine... |
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
|
93% |
67% |
45% |
|
|
A few times a year |
5% |
22% |
32% |
|
|
1-2 times a month |
1% |
6% |
12% |
|
|
1-2 times a week |
1% |
4% |
11% |
|
|
Every day |
0% |
1% |
1% |
|
|
|
Though the
number is still small, for the first time in the study a notable
number of fifth graders (5%) report experimenting with a
substance. Note that
a third of tenth graders report drinking for more than two years.
|
|
I started drinking been & wine |
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
Never |
94% |
69% |
47% |
|
1 year ago |
3% |
13% |
20% |
|
2-3 years ago (5th grade only) |
1% |
11% |
21% |
|
3+ years ago (5th grade only) |
2% |
-- |
-- |
|
4+ years ago |
-- |
7% |
12% |
The
greatest evidence that youth are influenced by the attractiveness
of beer and wine advertising may be in the number who view
consuming these alcoholic beverages as “very dangerous.”
Only 29% of tenth graders see beer or wine as “very
dangerous” compared with 52% who view pot this way.
|
|
I think beer/wine is... |
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
Very dangerous |
69% |
45% |
29% |
Kinda
dangerous |
26% |
38% |
49% |
|
Pretty safe |
4% |
15% |
18% |
|
Very safe |
1% |
3% |
3% |
Note the
similarity of responses of eighth graders who say “some kids
drink” and tenth graders who say “most kids drink.”
The results seem to indicate that by the high school years,
use of beer and wine is very common.
It is also interesting to note that 15% of fifth graders
perceive drinking in their class.
|
|
In my grade... |
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
All kids drink beer/wine |
2% |
5% |
10% |
|
|
Most kids drink beer/wine |
2% |
18% |
51% |
|
|
Some kids drink beer/wine |
9% |
50% |
36% |
|
|
Hardy any kids drink beer/wine |
85% |
27% |
3% |
|
|
Experiences
with liquor appear to be somewhat less than those with beer and
wine. About six of 10
tenth graders report they never drink liquor, compared to 45% who
say they never drink beer or wine.
|
|
I drink liquor... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
Never |
98% |
84% |
61% |
|
A few times |
1% |
10% |
20% |
|
1-2 times a month |
0% |
3% |
13% |
|
1-2 times a week |
0% |
2% |
5% |
|
Every day |
0% |
1% |
1% |
Notable
percentages of eighth graders (15%) and tenth graders (38%) have
consumed liquor at some point. |
|
I started drinking liquor... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
Never |
98% |
83% |
60% |
|
|
1 year ago |
1% |
8% |
16% |
|
|
2-3 years ago (2 year for 5th Graders) |
0% |
5% |
16% |
|
3 + years ago
(5th Graders only) |
1% |
-- |
-- |
|
|
4 or more years ago |
-- |
3% |
6% |
|
|
More
students see liquor as “very dangerous” than beer and wine.
|
|
I think liquor is... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
Very dangerous |
81% |
58% |
28% |
|
|
Kinda dangerous |
18% |
31% |
49% |
|
|
Pretty safe |
1% |
7% |
12% |
|
|
Very safe |
1% |
3% |
2% |
|
|
Again,
eighth and tenth graders perceive consumption of liquor, at least
at some level, is high among peers in their grades.
The rate of fifth graders who perceive liquor consumption
in their grades is about half of those who perceive use of beer
and/or wine.
|
|
In my grade... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
All kids drink liquor |
2% |
4% |
7% |
|
|
Most kids drink liquor |
1% |
9% |
38% |
|
|
Some kids drink liquor |
3% |
44% |
45% |
|
|
Hardly any kids drink liquor |
92% |
42% |
11% |
|
