Andrew Douglas
Principal, Douglas Workplace and Litigation Lawyers
Introduction
Teenage alcohol consumption is a source of concern for many parents. Indeed, it is not surprising that current statics reveal that the majority of teenagers today drink alcohol socially. While many drink responsibly, some young people develop risky drinking patterns which manifest in dangerous behaviours. Activities undertaken under the influence of excess amounts of alcohol, consumed irresponsibly threaten not only the health and safety of those who drink, but also of others around them. Australian data on patterns of alcohol consumption reveal that in the last year, 37 per cent of males and 42 per cent of females aged 14 – 19 years drank in a way that put themselves at risk or high risk of short term alcohol-related harm at least once (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2005). Moreover, the number of deaths and hospitalisations of children and young people due to alcohol is higher than for all the illicit drugs combined (Loxley et al, 2004).
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