Alcohol: Three out of five people aged 15 to 17 drink alcohol, having started drinking at an average age of 15½, according to the results of The Irish Times/TNS mrbi youth poll.
The average number of drinks young drinkers would consume "on a good night out" is eight, a figure which is remarkably consistent across regions, ages and social groups.
It is marginally lower among the youngest and highest among the oldest, as well as being higher among males (around nine) than females (around seven).
Some 15 per cent say they would have more than 10 drinks on such a night, with two per cent saying they would have more than 17. Some 48 per cent say they would have six or fewer.
Some 80 per cent of young people aged 15 to 24 drink, with 20 per cent not doing so.
Among under-18s, 60 per cent drink while 40 per cent do not.
It is illegal for such people to drink alcohol, except in a private residence with the consent of a parent. However, just 26 per cent of under-18s are allowed have a drink at home, 69 per cent are not and five per cent did not say.
While the average age at which young people started drinking is 15½, 84 per cent began drinking when below the legal minimum age of 18 for being served in a pub. Just two per cent say they did not begin until age 19, 12 per cent began at 18, 18 per cent at 17, 23 per cent at 16, 19 per cent at 15, 12 per cent at 14, six per cent at 13, four per cent at 12, and one per cent each at 11 and 10.
A large majority of young people support the current legal drinking age of 18, with even the 15 to 17 year-olds believing they should not be allowed drink until they are 18.
Of all young people aged 15 to 24, 71 per cent believe the minimum legal drinking age should be 18, 19 per cent believe it should be increased to 21 and some two per cent think it should be raised further to 23. Just eight per cent believe it should be reduced to 15.
Support for the current legal age is relatively evenly spread among different age groups, regions and social groups. However, there is stronger support for raising the legal drinking age among the older age group. Some 39 per cent of those aged 23 to 24 support raising the legal drinking age to 21 and a further four per cent would put it at 23. None of these would be affected by such an increase in the legal age.
Lager is the most popular drink among young people. Some 43 per cent say they most prefer it, 23 per cent prefer cider, 22 per cent alcopops or pre-mixed spirits, 18 per cent spirits, eight per cent stout, two per cent ale and two per cent some other drink. However, drink preferences differ sharply among males and females and among different age groups, with girls and younger people preferring alcopops and spirits to beers. Alcopops are the preferred drink among 35 per cent of female young people but just 10 per cent of males.
Similarly spirits are preferred by 25 per cent of females but just 12 per cent of males. Among males, in contrast, lager is the preferred choice of 52 per cent, compared to 32 per cent of females.
Some 30 per cent of the 15 to 17 age group prefer alcopops, falling to just 13 per cent of the 23 to 24 age group. Similarly the popularity of cider falls from 28 per cent among the youngest age cohort to 16 per cent of the 23 to 24 group.
Two-thirds (65 per cent) are allowed drink alcohol at home and 31 per cent are not. Some four per cent did not give an answer to this question.
Among those over 15 but below the legal age of 18, 26 per cent are allowed drink at home, 69 per cent are not and five per cent did not answer. The home regime is steadily relaxed as children get older to the point where 87 per cent of those aged 23 to 24 are allowed drink at home with seven per cent not allowed and six per cent giving no answer.
The better-off ABC1 social group is the most liberal about children drinking at home, with 70 per cent permitting it, 27 per cent not and three per cent giving no answer. The proportion of young people allowed drink at home falls to 64 per cent among the less well-off C2DE group, where 31 per cent do not allow it and five per cent did not answer. Among young people of a farming background just 55 per cent are allowed drink at home, 43 per cent are not and two per cent did not answer. Some 49 per cent say they love the "buzz" of drinking, 42 per cent disagree and nine per cent gave no opinion.