Surveys report that by age 15, 26 per cent of boys and 29 per cent of girls admit to binge-drinking (defined as taking more than five units of alcohol at least three times in the previous month).
At the same time, 42 per cent of boys and 35 per cent of girls admit to having tried illegal drugs. Comparisons with other countries put the UK at the top of the table for drug abuse: 40 per cent of 15-year-olds have tried cannabis, the highest incidence in Europe. Britain and Spain are equal in having the highest incidence of cocaine use in this age group.
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