Scratching the surface of our ‘alcoholising’ youth habits

Your editorial (May 17) on the recent UCD research probing the ‘alcoholising’ habits of Irish youth, suggests that it “should inform future policy both on mental health and the sale of alcohol”.

This is, of course, a valid enough observational advisory, but it merely scratches the surface of the root of the problem.

Addressing only the end-point of the issue reminds one of the paltry response to societal crime being firmly fixated on apprehension, conviction and imprisonment.