Half of 15-year-old girls have been drunk at least twice, nearly double the average proportion in other developed countries

British girls are the biggest teenage binge drinkers in the western world, according to a report.

Half of 15-year-olds have been drunk at least twice – almost double the 29% average of other developed countries, while 44% of 15-year-old British boys admitted to being intoxicated on two or more occasions.

Girls also drink more alcohol in the UK than their male counterparts, with 44% of 15-year-old boys being intoxicated on two or more occasions.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) figures were published in Through the Looking Glass, a report commissioned by the thinktank Demos. They found that between 1998 and 2008 the proportion of girls who binge-drank – defined as consuming more than six drinks a session – increased from 17% to 27%.

As part of the report, which offers recommendations for a policy to empower young women, Demos conducted a poll of 500 British females aged 16 to 19. It found 84% were anxious about being able to secure the job they wanted in the future, with 81% worried about doing well in exams.

Money fears also featured highly, with more than three-quarters (76%) saying they were worried about not having enough money, compared with 38% who were anxious about finding a partner and 57% who were worried about getting into university.

Having more cash to spend was ranked as the top answer (27%), when girls were asked what would make them happiest, while in second place was a good or better relationship with their boyfriend, girlfriend or partner (26%).

The poll also found teenage girls thought success in education (92%), having good friends (72%) and being kind (70%) would enable them to excel in life.

Among respondents 16% were not very happy, while 64% were quite happy most of the time and 17% felt very happy.

Teenage girls from lower socioeconomic groups were less happy than their wealthier counterparts, with 13% reporting being very happy most of the time, against 19%, and 21% reporting to being not very happy most of the time against 15%. More than half (55%) said their mobile phone was the most important item in their bag, while 62% said their main use of the internet was for social networking.