The researchers identified eight groups of friends covering a mix of social class, gender and education, using data from the Belfast Youth Development Study. The 41 participants – aged 18 or 19 when interviewed – were asked about their drinking between the ages of 12 and 18. In this way, the researchers construct a picture of the groups’ drinking culture and how it developed as the friends grew older.
The report:
The report:
- discusses the development of tacit informal rules and regulations about drinking with groups ('drinking etiquette');
- investigates how teenagers manage their intoxication within the group;
- considers the importance of relationships both within the group and outside it (e.g. parents);
- presents findings about underage experiences of alcohol-related harm;
- discusses the implications of these findings, including restricting access to alcohol, teaching harm reduction skills and the role of parents.
