Children who drink are not only more likely to be violent but also to be the victims of violence, British researchers say.

UPI reported Sept. 28 that researchers from the University of Cardiff surveyed 4,000 11- to 16-year-olds about their drinking and experience with violence. They found that drinkers were more likely to hit others, be hit by others, and engage in fighting.

"This new study seems to be the first to show a direct link between alcohol misuse and vulnerability to injury, independent of any link between drinking and fighting. There now needs to be much more effort put into reducing alcohol misuse in order to reduce injury," the study said. 

The research appears in the August 2006 issue of the Journal of Adolescence.