Alcohol consumption common among middle school students

A young man drinking beer while taking pictures in Moscow, Russia, on July 27, 2011.[Photo/IC]

More than half of Chinese middle school students have consumed alcohol, according to a new survey.

China has a serious under-age drinking problem, says the survey conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Drinking rates among Chinese youth are much higher than in Southeast Asia, and they are getting closer to European and American levels.

Some 51 percent of middle school students aged 12 or above have tasted an alcoholic drink, according to the survey, which canvassed about 30,000 middle schoolers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinan, Chengdu, and Harbin.

In comparison, European youth have the highest drinking rate at almost 90 percent, while Southeast Asia is the lowest at a rate below 20 percent. More than 60 percent of US and Japanese youth have had alcohol, at 66.2 percent and 60.9 percent, respectively.

China does outlaw under-age drinking, said Ma Guansheng, a professor at Peking University. However, the law is not specific enough and fails to substantiate supervision. "But in America, you have to show your ID to buy alcohol. The regulation is tough on businesses," he added.

Some 28 percent of middle school pupils have consumed alcohol before the age of 10, and 62 percent drink at parties and 53 percent at family gatherings. Drinking is especially common for pupils between 15 and 18 years of age.

Unlike the US, China does not specify a particular drinking age, said Chen Xiaoshu, a nutrition expert. Chinese people are generally less aware of the potential harms of alcohol, compared with tobacco.