Government 'must tackle' underage drinking

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by Change | 3 Jul 2009

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The government needs to take a much harder line on tackling underage drinking if it is to reduce the number of young people ending up in rehab centres because of an alcohol addiction, it has been claimed.

Ministers need to take serious and severe action on the problem of underage drinking if the UK is to avoid a major problem with young people suffering from alcohol addiction, it has been suggested.

Specialist drug and alcohol addiction charity Addaction has called on the government to crack down on underage drinking, warning that a failure to do so could result in thousands of young people being forced into rehab clinics later in life.

Delyth Evans, a spokeswoman for the charity, commented on recent figures that have shown many teenagers are drinking to excess on a weekly basis and therefore at risk of developing alcohol addictions.

"One in four teenagers drinking dangerously is very serious and needs a much harder response led by government," she said.

The figures were compiled by the Trading Standards Institute, which said that although fewer youngsters are now drinking on a weekly basis, many of those that still are doing represent a hardcore who drink as much as 20 units a week.

Such large consumption can quickly lead to an alcohol addiction and as a result many people could find themselves checking in to rehab clinics when they reach their 20s and 30s.

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