IN THE past 10 years, the average at which 30 per cent of young people had their first drink had fallen to between 13 and 14 a social psychologist has told a seminar on underage drinking.
Dr Mark Morgan said 96 per cent of young people were now taking their first alcoholic drink before the age of 17.
Dr Morgan, a social psychologist at St Patrick's College, Dublin, was addressing the seminar in Limerick organised by the Cider Industry Council in conjunction with the National Off Licence Association.
He said it was crucial to teach young people a responsible attitude to drink. Irish people traditionally had a longer childhood than in other countries, but childhood had been shortened by increased pressures.
"Many people," he said, "put an undue amount of blame on peer pressures and on the media by way of advertising but the family factor is most important. Extreme attitudes by parents towards alcohol, frequent criticism and regular problem drinking at home are some of the main factors involved."
Dr Morgan said it was not reasonable to blame the licenced trade totally. There are many other influences such as in the home, at school as well as the community and it is not reasonable either to assume the stringent enforcement of the licensing laws would end our problems.