14 December 2004

AMSTERDAM — Dutch teenagers aged 15 and 16 are Europe's heaviest youth drinkers, with 25 percent drinking alcohol more than 10 times per month, according to new research.

The European School Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs revealed on Tuesday that Dutch teens, boys in particular, drink often and in large quantities. Roughly one third of male teens will consume five or more glasses during each drinking session.

Dutch students appear to care little about the damaging effects alcohol can have. Just 17 percent expect negative consequences as a result of alcohol, such as health complaints or problems with the law.

The study indicated that due to low drunkenness rates among young Dutch people, drinking alcohol in the Netherlands is a socially acceptable phenomenon and youths have become accustomed to drinking. Schools and parents should be take more responsibility, the report advised.

Besides Dutch teens, young people in Ireland, Britain, Sweden and Denmark were also singled out as binge drinkers.

When it comes to smoking, cannabis and other drugs, Dutch youths were ranked about half-way in terms of use. The survey found that 18 percent of young Dutch people questioned had smoked a joint in the month preceding the study.

The study, conducted in 35 European nations, was co-financed by the Dutch health Ministry. Addiction institute Trimbos gathered the Dutch data for the comparative study, which was presented in Stockholm on Tuesday.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news