This brief from the WHO Snapshot Series on alcohol control policies and practice, led by the WHO Less Alcohol Unit, focuses on how young people’s alcohol consumption remains a serious public health issue. It provides the evidence on how homes, schools and digital spaces drive young people’s alcohol consumption, and explores existing initiatives to reduce young people’s exposure to alcohol.
Key messages:
- Alcohol consumption among young people remains a public health concern, with increase in consumption in low- and middle-income countries, especially among young women.
- Homes, schools and digital platforms can normalize young people’s positive perceptions about alcohol consumption, increasing its associated harm.
- Governance, including policies, regulatory frameworks and enforcement, needs to keep pace with digital settings to effectively address alcohol acceptability, availability and affordability.
Recommended citation: Can homes, schools and digital platforms drive young people’s alcohol consumption? Brief 13. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025 (Snapshot series on alcohol control policies and practice). https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/381079/9789240107441-eng.pdf