Irish youths drink most

IRELAND’S youth are the biggest drink and drug users among young people in Europe but simply telling them to ‘say no to alcohol’ will not work, according to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC).

"The pressure on young people to get sozzled reflects our general poor attitude to drink in Ireland," the chief executive of the ISPCC, Paul Gilligan, said yesterday.

"Adult behaviour must change if we are to have any chance of influencing our youth," he said. "We must also distinguish between using and misusing alcohol."