Underage drinking is a gateway to illegal drug use, it was claimed today.
A new survey found 76 per cent of adults believe 15 to 18-year-olds who drink alcohol regularly are more likely to experiment with illegal substances.
The study by a leading rehabilitation centre also revealed parents who fail to keep tabs on the alcohol in their home could be fuelling their children's drinking habits.
It said while nine out of 10 adults store drink in their house, less than half monitor the quantity.
Declan Jones, of the Aislinn Centre, said the figures are concerning.
"Parents need to be aware that by storing alcohol in their home they are offering their children a route to this gateway drug," said Mr Jones.
"We need to be conscious of the messages we are sending out to our children in relation to alcohol.
"It is not enough to say that young people who drink alcohol regularly can then experiment with drugs and then keep bottles of wine or spirits or beer in the house for teenagers to lay their hands on."
Almost 1,000 people aged over 15 years were questioned for the survey, carried out by Lansdowne in February 2009.
Wine was the favourite alcoholic drink in people's homes (80 per cent), followed by spirits (70 per cent) and then beer/lager/cider (65 per cent).
It found 90 per cent of people think there is a problem with alcohol abuse among 13-18 year olds.
But it also revealed 82 per cent of those quizzed said young teenagers can be prompted to try alcohol or regularly drink from watching their parents habits.
Mr Jones said parents often give mixed messages to young people by allowing them to have a glass of wine with a meal and then tend to polish off the bottle themselves.
"It's certainly positive that such a high percentage of people acknowledge that alcohol is a gateway drug for teenagers, but it is alarming to see that such a large amount of people have alcohol in their homes," added Mr Jones.
"Despite the fact that they acknowledge a potential for harm they are still exposing their teenagers to this gateway drug in massive volumes."
The Aislinn Centre is the only drug-free residential centre in the State providing residential treatment for young people aged between 15 and 21 who are dependent on alcohol or drugs.
PA