New Delhi:
In a startling revelation, a study has claimed that 45 per cent of students of Class 12th in big cities have taken to drinking, courtesy fat pocket money and peer influence.
"As many as 45 per cent of the 12th graders in metropolitan cities consume alcohol excessively, at least five to six times in a month," industry body Assocham said in a survey conducted over 2,000 boys and girls in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh and Dehradun.
The results indicate an almost 100 per cent increase in teenagers drinking in the last 10 years. Reasons for rising liquor consumption among school students include easy money.
Easy availability of imported brands and inadequate parental watch coupled with increased spending power have led to the high consumption of liquor, it said.
It said that most of them took to drinking to be at par with their peer groups.
Higher liquor consumption was witnessed among teenagers in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai followed by Chandigarh and Hyderabad.
"Each year, students spend Rs 3,500-4,500 on alcohol, more than they spend on soft drinks, tea, milk, juice, coffee, movie tickets or books combined," Assocham said.
About 70 per cent of the teens consume alcohol on occasions like farewell party, New Year, Christmas Valentine's Day and birthdays.
While most of the boys start drinking before college, only 40 per cent of the girls take their first drink between the age of 15 to 17.
Usage of alcohol has resulted in high-risk sexual behaviour, HIV infection and liver disease.
Assocham said parents can prevent their children from drinking by talking to them about ill-influence of alcohol, role modelling and responsible behaviour.