A Manchester youth charity is calling for greater alcohol prevention after data revealed a rise in alcohol consumption in young people. 

Despite the decline in young people’s alcohol use nationally, alcohol consumption has increased from 55 per cent in 2022 to 81 per cent in 2023 in Greater Manchester. 

According to data from GM Trends, seven of the ten boroughs have reported an increase, with 57 per cent in Oldham, 55 per cent in Bury, while Trafford reported a decrease at 50 per cent. 

It was also reported that the proportion of young people entering treatment for alcohol consumption in Greater Manchester rose from 23.9 per cent in 2020 to 28.6 per cent in 2022. 

Janine Day, Operations Director at Early Break, a youth substance support charity said: “Alcohol is socially acceptable in this country. 

“Initially, a lot of young people use alcohol because it’s what their ‘mates’ do, but after that, it’s used as a coping mechanism to manage stress. 

“It’s difficult being a young person in today’s world, with the stress of school and managing friendships.  

“Very little funding goes towards prevention services, and a lot goes into drug treatment instead.” 

A study conducted by the Substance Use and Associated Behaviours Research Group (SUAB) in 2025 found that young people are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of alcohol, with many researching online. 

However, knowledge still remains inconsistent, with 81 per cent of young people advocating for more education in schools by experts. 

The reasons for alcohol consumption included boredom, fun, and to connect with friends. 

The study also found that 94.9 per cent of young people over the age of 18 consume alcohol for social reasons, while only 70.4 per cent of under 18s did. 

Greater Manchester youth charities have also noticed a rise in young people using multiple substances alongside alcohol, known as polydrug use. 

These include mixing alcohol with other substances such as ketamine, cannabis and cocaine. 

Janine added that services must start looking at all drugs used alongside alcohol to prevent the risk of harm to the body and families. 

“Alcohol is not the predominant drug anymore when you look at young people’s data.  

“It is typically the second or third drug used alongside other substances. I would say about 80 per cent of young people come in with cannabis use.”

Jon Hobday, Greater Manchester Lead for Drugs and Alcohol and Director of Public Health for Bury Council, also expressed concern about the increase in polydrug use.

“There has been a worrying trend of young people experimenting with multiple substances, particularly ketamine and alcohol, and it’s more common than we previously thought. 

“While I believe that risk taking is a normal part of adolescent development, the challenge is to help young people manage these risks and reduce harm as much as possible. 

“However, there is hope, with alcohol consumption among young people declining slowly, with more young people becoming more self-conscious due to social media and the high cost of alcohol.” 

In September 2025, the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership delivered the Greater Manchester Alcohol Harms Strategy 2025 – 2030. 

The aim of the strategy is to push efforts towards preventative and support services to reduce alcohol harm, including offering accessible treatment and recovery support. 

NHS England reported that alcohol dependency is the leading cause for early mortality, ill health and disability for people aged between 15 and 49. 

One concern that the council has is the hidden risk of alcohol use in families and the effects it has on children’s development. 

Public Health England found that children who grow up with parents affected by alcohol are more likely to develop substance use harm. 

The SUAB study also found that 57.8 per cent of young people under 18 were given alcohol by family members, while 54 per cent received it from their parents.

The new Alcohol Harms Strategy aims to reduce this concern by introducing more preventative measures, such as educating households about the harms of alcohol and training local businesses in responsible alcohol service.

If you or a young person requires support or advice on stopping substance use, Early Break provides a free confidential support service for substance use, family wellbeing and emotional health.

Banner image credit: Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash