Grounded: A 14-year-old's story - Balance

Real Life

14 May 2021

Grounded: A 14-year-old’s story

A 14-year-old girl, who ended up in hospital after drinking spirits with her friends, shares her story to warn other teenagers about the dangers of alcohol.

"I am lucky that I can tell my story and that nothing bad happened and that I recovered from this incident."

More real-life stories

Friends looking at phone
15 June 2021

Social media and drinking in children – A picture is emerging, but it’s still sketchy

Dr Tony Rao, a consultant old-age psychiatrist and visiting lecturer at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust/Institute of Psychiatry in London, discusses how social media can influence drinking in children and younger people.

Dr Sadie Boniface
07 June 2021

Alcohol adverts often appeal to underage adolescents

Dr Sadie Boniface, Head of Research at Institute of Alcohol Studies and Visiting Researcher at King’s College London, explains how alcohol marketing is everywhere, and is a barrier to an alcohol-free childhood.

21 May 2021

How can we help young people make healthier lifestyle choices?

Melanie Soutar, from the Matrix Young People's Drug and Alcohol Service in South Tyneside, offers her advice on how we can support young people and help them make informed choices when it comes to drinking alcohol.