Current Health Promotion Initiatives in Underage Drinking Behaviour

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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Current UK Health Promotion to Reduce Underage Alcohol Drinking Behaviour

The UK government has been taking many initiatives to reduce underage alcohol drinking behaviour. This section discusses the effectiveness of some of these health promotion campaigns launched by the UK government. In order to reduce underage alcohol drinking behaviour, the government launched Youth Alcohol Action Plan in the year 2008. This aim of the action plan is to stop youngsters between 13 and 17 years of age drink alcohol in public places by increasing police powers and enforcement efforts (Youth Alcohol Action Plan, 2008).

Another initiative that the UK government has taken is the provision of alternative activities to the youth so that they can keep themselves busy, especially in the evening and on weekends when young people mostly like to drink (Youth Offer, 2010). The government have already invested around 79 million pounds between the year 2007 and 2010 to improve young people's activities and facilities through this campaign and ensure that these are affordable (British Medical Association, 2008).

Another initiative that the government has taken to change attitude and behaviour of youngsters is by educating them to increase their knowledge about alcohol (AGDAG, 2008). A Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) program has been made compulsory since 2011 for students to attend to get educated on various health related stuff. The program however includes more sessions on smoking and drugs, rather than alcohol.

Lastly, early intervention is provided to underage youth who are involved in drinking activities through Screening and Brief Interventions (SBIs). These interventions are useful tools for reducing the number of people developing long-term health problems. The biggest advantage of SBIs is that they are cost effective.

Tannhil's Model

During the period between 1980 and 1990, the concept of ...