British Youth Far More Out Of Control Than Euro Neighbours

The Institute for Public Policy Research is about to release a report that suggests that British youth is the most poorly behaved in Europe. The BBC says:

On every indicator of bad behaviour – drugs, drink, violence, promiscuity – the UK was at or near the top… the researchers believe the country’s record can be explained by a collapse in family and community life in the UK.

Measured against German, French and Italian youngsters, British 15-year-olds are drunk more often and involved in more fights, and a higher proportion have had sex.

In England, 45% of 15-year-old boys spend most evenings out with their friends, and in Scotland the figure is 59%. In France just 17% of boys spend their time in the same way.

… One study looked at by the IPPR suggested 38% of British 15-year-olds in 2003 had tried cannabis – compared with 7% in Sweden and 27% in Germany.

Another said that in 2003 British 15-year-olds were the third worst binge-drinkers in Europe – only Denmark and Ireland were worse.

BBC NEWS | UK | UK youths ‘among worst in Europe’