Substantial fines should be imposed on older people who purchase alcohol for under 18s in pubs or off-licences, the Dublin-based Drug Prevention Alliance said yesterday.
Its chairman, Mr Jim Cumberton, a former chief executive of the Coolmine House drug rehabilitation centre, said the buying of alcohol by adults for young people was "irresponsible and damaging behaviour" which should be made unacceptable in society.
"Virtually all drug abuse starts with alcohol abuse," he said.
Mr Cumberton was among a group of volunteers who set up Drug Prevention Alliance three years ago to educate parents on early warning signs of possible drug abuse by their children.
In a report just published by the alliance entitled "Give us a chance at life", Mr Cumberton criticised the prescribing of methadone, a heroin substitute, to people under 20. The emphasis instead should be on detoxification and drug-free recovery in this age group.
The National Drug Strategy, he added, was blocking the chances of recovery of addicts under 20 by placing them on methadone maintenance, rather than in detox. "The State policy is merely an attempt to control young people by sedating them."
Mr Cumberton said: "The crisis level of alcohol, heroin and other drug abuse, including methadone, has resulted in increasing numbers of school-age youngsters in Dublin and throughout the country developing behavioural problems which endanger their health, education and their futures, in addition to the stress and hardship inflicted on their parents and siblings at home." He also called for more in-patient detoxification facilities and residential rehabilitation for those aged under 20.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said methadone was an internationally recognised method of treatment and detoxification did not suit everyone. "The Government is committed to the National Drugs Strategy."