A total of 55 kids aged between 10 and 14 years old were admitted to A&E after drinking too much alcohol between March 2007 and February 2008, according to NHS Fife figures revealed under a Freedom of Information request.

NHS Fife would not comment on the circumstances of the admissions, the treatment received or the amount of alcohol which had been consumed by the youngsters.

Figures for those aged between 14 and 18 years old were not available, however, it is thought the number of admissions in that age category would increase the total significantly.

And a Fife alcohol support charity believes such statistics are merely the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to underage drinking in the Kingdom.

Jim Bett, service manager for Fife Alcohol Advisory Service, said: "We only become aware of this when it becomes an acute problem, however there is a great deal of illicit drinking going on which is doing a lot of damage and storing up big problems for the future."

A report into adolescent substance use in Fife carried out in 2006 revealed that the average age for starting to drink is 11.


It also showed that almost a third of 15 year olds and 14 per cent of 13 year olds drink at least once a week, spending an average of almost £10 on alcohol.

Significant numbers of children purchase their alcohol from a relative or friend or from a shop.

Mr Bett added: "Certainly there is a higher prevalence of alcohol use than there used to be, and that appears to be the case among young people too.

"People use alcohol for all sorts of reasons, whether it be as a way of coping with problems, to become more socially confident or because of peer pressure. Children are no different and I think the same reasons apply.

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