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The report warned that young women’s drinking habits has far more health risks that the case of young men. (Google) |
CAIRO — More young girls in Britain’s capital are turning into heavy alcohol consumers with drinking habits similar to their male peers, a trend that also emerged among young Muslims who are drinking far more than ever, a London watchdog report has found.
“Young women aged 11-15 drink significantly larger quantities of alcohol than they were a few years ago,” said the London Assembly report released on Tuesday, June 16.
In the first comprehensive assessment of the drinking habits of the capital’s young people, the report, “Too much too young?”, reveals that Young women aged 11-15 have shown a particular increase in the amount they drink.
“Our data analysis found that 11-15 year old women now have similar drinking habits to young men of the same age.”
However, the report warned that young women’s drinking habits has far more health risks that the case of young men.
“Young women’s lower tolerance for alcohol has immediate impacts on their health.
“If women drink at a similar level to their male peers, they tend to feel the effects more quickly and more severely.
“Because of the consequences of 11-15 year old women’s increased drinking, the Committee believes that their alcohol consumption should be monitored over the next few years,” the report concludes.
Many reports have warned lately that alcohol abuse by British teens has dramatically increased in recent years.
The Assembly also found alcohol-related hospital admissions have almost doubled in recent years and calls to the London Ambulance relating to young people drinking have increased 27 percent in four years.
In the five-year period between 2003 and 2007, the number of alcohol-related offences involving 11-21 year olds almost doubled.
Young Muslims
London assembly's report also revealed that young people from the Muslim communities are now drinking far more.
“There has been a substantial increase in the proportion of young people from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities who drink,” the report said.
The Assembly’s 10-month investigation found that in only three years, the number of young Muslims drinking has surged 6 percent.
“In 2001-04 just four per cent of Pakistani and two per cent of Bangladeshi young people drank at least once a year. By 2005-07, this figure had grown to ten per cent of Pakistani and 12 per cent of Bangladeshi young people,” said the report.
“This raises concern that these recent increases could be the start of an ongoing trend.”
The London’s scrutinizing body also warned that the phenomenon among the Muslim community has its complications.
“Because alcohol is not a part of the traditional culture in these communities, young Pakistani and Bangladeshi Londoners may be more likely to conceal their alcohol misuse, and may be less likely to seek help for alcohol misuse.
“Their parents and carers may be less equipped to identify problem drinking, and less informed about what to do if their child is misusing alcohol, or develops a dependence on alcohol.”
Islam takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants.
The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that get people intoxicated when taken is unlawful, both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink or something else.
Click to read the report.
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