Young Adults And Binge Drinking

Drunk and disorderly: a qualitative study of binge drinking among 18 to 24 year olds.

Young binge drinkers enjoy drinking and being drunk, and few feel their drinking habits should change. Despite this, the majority have either done something they later regretted or been involved in or witnessed criminal or disorderly incidents while out drinking. Indeed, most young people consider drunken fights and disorder to be an almost inevitable part of a night out. These are some of the key findings outlined in the Home Office's report written by and using a qualitative study conducted by MORI's Qualitative HotHouse.

The study examines young people's experiences of crime, disorder and risk-taking in the night-time economy, and explores ways in which drinking patterns, attitudes to drinking alcohol and the effects of binge drinking were related to these experiences.

The aim of this research is to provide an evidence base for the development of policies to reduce alcohol-related crime, disorder and violence and public drunkenness.

• Download the report from the Home Office website -- pdf, 253KB

Technical details

The research consisted of 16 focus groups discussions with young people aged 18-24, conducted across eight locations in England and Wales between 5-26 February 2002. The focus groups discussed the participants' experiences of crime, disorder and risk-taking related to drinking.