boozy kids

Three news sources that I've read today reported on the survey results and statistics published by the Schools Health Education Unit. Compare the way that Sky News

The study found that 4% of 12 and 13-year-olds had drunk 28 or more units of alcohol in the week prior to being surveyed - the equivalent of 19 glasses of wine. This exceeds the Government's daily unit guidelines for men (three to four units) and women (two to three units).

the Telegraph

Meanwhile, some children as young as 12 were found to be drinking the equivalent of 19 glasses of wine a week. The study by the unit, based on data collected from more than 83,000 children aged between 10 and 15, found four per cent of children aged 12 or 13 had drunk 28 units or more of alcohol in the week before they were questioned – exceeding government limits for adult men, who can safely drink three to four units a day.

and the BBC

A small number of children as young as 12 claimed they drank the equivalent of 19 glasses of wine a week when questioned for a health survey.Research by the independent Schools Health Education Unit suggested that 4% of those questioned aged 12 or 13 claimed they drank 28 units or more.

report the findings. Surprisingly, the BBC is the only one of the three to highlight that these are claims made by the children surveyed and not absolute facts.

Also gasting my flabber is that the BBC is the only one of the three reports to mention that the claimed consumption figures are lower than previous surveys. From reading the other two articles you're left with the impression that it's a major problem that is definitely trending in the 'getting worse' direction.

What's happened at the BBC? Have all the temperance writers taken the day off?