Poll reveals prevalent alcohol drinking among teens

BEIJING - A research into drinking behaviors of Chinese adolescents revealed a worrying high rate of alcohol exposure, according to news carried by the 163.com on Tuesday.

The poll, conducted from 2013 to 2014 by the National Institute for Nutrition and Health of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, surveyed 30,605 junior and senior high school students aged between 12 to 20.

The sampled students come from six Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinan, Chengdu and Harbin.

The result shows that 51 percent of the respondents have tried alcohol and 15 percent have been drunk.

Among those who have tried it, 62 percent admitted that they frequently drink at parties and 53 percent said they often drink at family dinners.

Ma Guansheng, professor of public health with Peking University, said although Chinese laws prohibit selling alcohol to juniors, the laws are difficult to enforce due to lack of details in the rules.

In contrast, the US requires identity cards be presented to buy alcohol and harsh penalties push vendors to follow the rules, Ma said in the article.

The report said prevalence of drinking is encouraged by a low awareness from teenagers about the harms alcohol use. Many believe high quality liquor or wine cause no harm to their health, or that drinking beer is no different from drinking water.