Alcohol misuse by young people is "spiralling out of control" according to Mr Batt O'Keeffe, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children.
He was speaking at the publication of a report entitled 'Alcohol Misuse by Young People', by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children.
He said daily news reports and television footage of the nation's city centres on weekend nights have shown the extent of the problem.
The report identifies ten recommendations to tackle the problem including a ban on alcohol advertising and the establishment of an Alcohol Control Centre.
The centre would advise on the control and regulation of alcohol and its manufacture, sale, and consumption. The centre would also initiate measures to change young people's behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol over the medium to long term.
The report also recommends using shock advertising to inform young people and parents of the serious repercussions from abusing alcohol.
A significant increase in excise duty on alcopops is also sought by the report. price controls for non-alcoholic drinks are also recommended.
As a way of improving the early detection of alcohol misuse the report also seeks routine screening to be carried out as part of routine admissions to hospital emergency departments.
The study was drawn up following 18 months of research in which written and oral submissions were received on the subject from the Department of Health and Children; Hospital Emergency Department Consultants; the Licensed Vintners Association; Vintners Federation of Ireland and other interested individuals, groups and organisations.