[lillywilliam]

The current trend to introduce alcohol to teenagers before the legal drinking age of eighteen needs to be urgently reviewed in light of recent Australian research into adolescent drinking.

Adolescents under the age of eighteen who drink even small amounts of alcohol have significantly higher risk of alcohol abuse when they move into early adulthood. In fact, low level drinkers resemble more closely high level drinkers and those who didn't drink at all when it comes to alcohol-related problems.


This research provides evidence for a move away from the harm minimization approach, where teenagers are taught to drink sensibly, and even for a rise in the minimum drinking age.

The move toward zero alcohol for under 18's has plenty of backing from health experts across the nation. There is no doubt teen drinking is linked to a variety of risk-taking behaviours particularly sexual activity, violence and anti-social behaviours.

The brain recent conducted over the last ten or so years leaves little doubt that those who begin drinking under eighteen years of age are highly susceptible to developing dependency problems in their twenties.

[restingtree]

AMEN.