WALES has one of the most serious underage drinking problems in the UK, a leading charity said today.
Alcohol Concern Cymru said Welsh teenagers are developing a taste for alcohol fuelled by pocket-money prices.
The comments come as a report estimates that under-age drinkers are consuming the equivalent of 6.9 million pints of beer or 1.7 million bottles of wine each week.
Booze is being sold in supermarkets and corner shops for as little as 18p a unit.
Andrew Misell, Alcohol Concern Cymru’s policy officer, said: “We need to look at the reasons why so many young people are drinking so much, including the ludicrously cheap price of alcohol in some places.
“With alcohol on sale for as little as 18p a unit, the maximum amount of alcohol for a man for a week can be bought for less than £4, and a women’s weekly limit can be reached for less than £3.
“Discounting like this puts alcohol in the pocket money price bracket, making it easily affordable for many young people.”
A project designed to tackle underage drinking and anti-social behaviour disorder in Rhondda Cynon Taf seized a boxful of alcohol, including cans of premium-strength lager, bottles of wine and brandy, from teenagers one Friday evening.
Paul Cannon, chairman of the Rhondda Cynon Taf community safety partnership, which coordinates the Friday night projects, said: “The amount of alcohol seized from young people during just one Friday night project is shocking and is even more poignant as we hear the words of parents who have been directly affected by underage drinking.”
Alcohol Concern’s report, Right Time, Right Place, which is published today, calls for strategies to be introduced to identify children and teenagers involved in risky drinking.
This includes identifying underage drinkers when they attend A&E or come into contact with the police.
John Jenkins, the British Medical Association Wales’ senior public affairs officer, said: “Underage drinking is a growing concern and drinking above the recommended limits harms health.
“It is associated with other problems including casual unprotected sex, crime and disorder. We are also concerned about the marketing of alcopops with a high alcohol content to young people.
“The appeal of ‘designer drinks’ is greatest between the ages of 13 and 16. People who develop unhealthy patterns of drinking in their teenage years are at a greater risk of developing dependence on alcohol in adulthood.
“We need concerted government action to address the problems of underage and teenage drinking.
“Part of the solution lies in health education, yet the pro- alcohol values and norms that are prevalent throughout society in Wales also need addressing – they are underpinned by the alcohol industry who employ clever marketing techniques and have access to a multi-million-pound publicity budget.”
An Assembly Government spokeswoman said the charity’s efforts to raise awareness of alcohol misuse were welcome.
She added: “We are well aware of the devastating impact that alcohol has on individuals, families and communities, and we are working hard to address this.
“The chief medical officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell has published advice for parents on children and alcohol, which also reminds parents to be aware of their own drinking behaviour as this can influence their children.
“This is also a theme in our campaign to highlight the amount people may drink at home. Our Know the Units campaign aims to remind people of the need to drink sensibly and the need to stick within their daily limits.
“We have also provided funding to the Strengthening Families Programme which helps parents and their children understand the harms of drugs and alcohol, help them have discussions about these issues before problems arise and to set boundaries.”
Wales Online