President McAleese yesterday said young people had the potential to "break the cycle of alcohol abuse" which has blighted the lives of previous generations.
Mrs McAleese was speaking at the young persons' forum on alcohol, which she hosted at Áras an Úachtaráin yesterday, where teenagers spoke about the impact of under age and binge drinking on their lives.
"It's time to bring in a ban on advertising which is making drinking attractive," said Jessica Kelch (13) of Coiste na dTeachtaí.
"We're sick of making all these recommendations yet nothing happens. Minister, it's time to act on our recommendations," said Paul Wren (19) a student of the Institute of Technology Carlow.
The President said abuse of alcohol was the cause of many avoidable tragedies and wasted lives.
"We are asking for your help in breaking this cycle, so we can give to our young people a clean baton, not this cycle of misery," she said.
"With your help and wisdom, you could be the first generation of young people to get a handle on this problem."
Among the groups of young people who took part in the forum were students from Moyne Community School, Co Longford, who won an award at the Young Social Innovators competition earlier this year on tackling alcohol misuse.
The students said their research showed the need for an alternative model of youth centre as a way of facilitating other forms of recreation.
The forum included members of Coiste na dTeachtaí, a group of young people affiliated with Dáil na nÓg, the Young People's Forum attached to the National Children's Office, the Union of Secondary Students, Scouting Ireland and national youth organisation Foróige.
The discussion, which centred on the scale of the problem, the causes of it, and how it could be tackled, was chaired by Fr Peter McVerry, a veteran campaigner for young people at risk.
Most groups at the forum backed a series of measures, such as bans or restrictions on advertising, greater parental intervention, increased implementation of current laws to help combat the problem and more facilities for young people.
