Irish society must face up to the growing problem of alcohol abuse and stop blaming young people for the crisis, it was claimed today.
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) said every sector of society had a role to play in tackling the issue and should work together to find a solution.
NYCI president Mr Kevin Hickey, said: "Young people are often scapegoated as the perpetrators of alcohol misuse rather than the victims of a societal problem.
"We need to ensure that whatever policies we develop that all sections of society are engaged in their formulation and that young people's voices are heard."
He was speaking at the Council's conference on alcohol and young people in Dublin, attended by around 100 youth workers, health professionals, young people, gardai, civil servants and academics.
Speakers addressed possible reasons for the 41% increase in alcohol consumption in Ireland over the last decade.
Dr Ann Hope, national alcohol advisor, criticised the drinks industry for its failure to promote responsible drinking. She said measures targeting young people were only doomed to failure.
"All policy measures are not equal," she said. "Measures that influence the environment are more effective than targeting the individual drinker."
Ms Zoe Trevaskis, from Dail na nOg, challenged the State's licensing laws, while emphasising that the involvement of young people was vital to tackling the problem.
The conference follows the publication of the second report from
The Strategic
Task Force on Alcoholwhich revealed that alcohol-related problems cost society €2.65bn a year.
Irish 16-year-olds are amongst the highest alcohol abusers in Europe in terms of binge drinking and drunkenness.
The report claimed there was no decrease in the numbers of 15-17 year olds drinking between 1998 and 2002 with around half of both boys and girls regular drinkers.
Mr Hickey said: "We must be cognisant of the fact that alcohol misuse is a problem which pervades our society and has done so throughout history.
"It is our problem, we have created it and now we must work together to find a solution to it.
"Each sector has a part to play, including Government, health professionals and youth organisations."
PA