University of Glasgow study reveals teenagers social media use could lead to binge drinking

A study led by the University of Glasgow revealed social media use could significantly impact alcohol consumption and dangerous drinking behaviour amongst teenagers. 

The analysis revealed that 14-year-olds who had spent half an hour or more every day on social media were over 60 per cent more likely, to drink alcohol six or more times a month at age 17 and are 51 per cent more likely to engage in harmful behaviours such as binge drinking. 

Other findings also showed that adolescents from a better socio-economic background were even more prone to binge drinking because of their exposure to social media platforms. 

Calling for stricter measures, Amrit Kaur Purba, the lead author of the study, said: “These findings add more weight to the argument that we need to create better-tailored guidance for the length of time young people should spend on social media, accounting for their individual needs and circumstances, as well as prioritising regulation around how alcohol-related content is displayed to young users.” 

Findings come amid a battle on whether to increase alcohol’s MUP, as well as at the back of recent statistics revealing alcohol-related deaths in Scotland are at a 15-year record high. 

The Medical Research Council, the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office, NHS Research Scotland and the Wellcome Trust also contributed to the study, which has been published in The European Journal of Public Health.