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HBSC Ireland 2018 Age of Initiation

 ‌HEALTH BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN (HBSC) IRELAND

World Health Organization Collaborative Cross-National Study


The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey is a WHO collaborative cross-national study that monitors the health behaviours, health outcomes and social environments of school-aged children every four years. HBSC Ireland surveys school-going children aged 9-18 years. The study is conducted by the HBSC Ireland team, based at the Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway.

HBSC Ireland 2018 Age of Initiation

Children were asked at what age they first drank alcohol (more than a small amount), got drunk, smoked a cigarette (more than a puff), and took cannabis. The response options were:

  • Never
  • 11 years old or less
  • 12 years old
  • 13 years old
  • 14 years old
  • 15 years old
  • 16 years or older

In the visualisation below:

  • The tab ‘All Substances’ compares the different substances by selecting the initiation age from the drop down list on the right.
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