It is estimated that alcohol causes 28,000 excess deaths per year in England and Wales. The medical effects of long term use of alcohol has been shown to cause liver damage, stomach cancer and heart disease but additional deaths involving alcohol take the form of drowning and fire. 7% of accidental drowning are as a result of alcohol and 40% of household fires are due to alcohol.

Home Office figures that 36% of all crimes committed by people under the age of eighteen are done so while the perpetrator is under the influence of alcohol.

According to Department of Health Statistics 26% of all 11 - 15 year olds drink each week. That is 28% of the boys and 25% of the girls within this age range, the numbers vary with 6% of 11 year olds drinking increasing to 52% of 15 year olds.

At a stage in their lives when the bodies of young people are developing, heavy drinking causes problems with the red muscle fibres causing endurance problems, whereas regular drinking affects white muscle fibres affecting explosive activity such as sprinting. Alcoholism is a physical dependency much the same as heroin addiction. 

To buy or attempt to buy intoxicating liquor if under eighteen.