Dr Catherine Conlon: A fresh approach to underage drinking – the Icelandic model

People who begin drinking in their teens have a four-fold increase in dependence in later life, writes Catherine Conlon

Rather than considering lowering the minimum age for consumption of alcohol, it might be more useful to consider the reasons behind hazardous and harmful drinking patterns. File picture

A Cork City councillor, under the aegis of fostering debate, suggested recently that the City Council should write to the Minister for Justice asking that consideration be given to reducing the legal drinking age to 16, because "the current system, which has been in place for decades, is clearly not working". 

Cllr Shane O’Callaghan is right to suggest that a fresh approach to tackling this problem is warranted. A recent Health research Board (HRB) report confirmed that one in three young people (aged 15-24 years) in Ireland are engaging in ‘hazardous and harmful drinking' and that while young people are drinking later in life, more are engaged in hazardous drinking and are developing alcohol-related problems.