Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS): National Overview 2015

Sources and Availability

Sources of Alcohol and Tobacco

One of the most common sources of alcohol, tobacco and drugs was to get it from a friend. It was also common for pupils to get alcohol from a relative or at home (either with or without permission).

However, it was rare for smokers to be given tobacco by relatives. It was more common for them to ask an adult to buy tobacco for them. 13 year olds were more likely to ask a stranger, while 15 year olds were more likely to ask someone they knew.

Figure 10 Most common sources of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, among both age groups (2015)

The proportion of pupils sourcing their tobacco from retail outlets has decreased over time. In particular, purchasing tobacco from a newsagent has dropped markedly over time.

Figure 11 Proportion of 15 year old regular smokers, sourcing tobacco from retail outlets (1990-2015)

There has been an increase in the proportion of pupils reporting that they have been offered drugs between 2013 and 2015.

Figure 12 Proportion of pupils who have ever been offered drugs, by age (2015)