Youth Council calls for underage drinking strategy

The National Youth Council of Ireland says that young people as a group should not be solely blamed for Ireland's problem with alcohol abuse.

The group claims that society as a whole is responsible for the 41% increase in alcohol consumption over the past decade.

Youth workers, member of the Gardaí, representatives of the medical profession, and government advisers, as well as young people themselves, are gathering in Dublin today to discuss ways to deal with underage drinking.

Youth Council director Mary Cunningham said all those involved in tackling the problem must develop a proper co-ordinated strategy.