Teens drink less often than Euro average

Irish school children drink alcohol less often than the European average — but consume more when they do drink, according to a major study.

The ESPAD 2011 report shows that where Ireland was once at the top of the European table for binge-drinking among 15 and 16-year-old students, it is now around the average.

The research, conducted every four years, found that Ireland has experienced the largest fall in Europe in illegal drug use, dropping from 37% in 1995 to 19% in 2011.