Young people's lives are being ruined by the misuse of alcohol with consumption per capita in Ireland the highest in the European Union.

In a report entitled 'Alcohol in the life of Young People' launched today by Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Robin Eames, the Church's Social Justice and Theology Panel identifies worrying trends in the drinking habits of young people in Ireland.

The Very Revd Gordon Wynne, chairman of the Social Justice and Theology Panel, said: "This Report is not age preaching to youth. Alcohol is an issue for the whole of society and as well as looking at how we can educate young people about the effects of over-indulgence in alcohol, this Report looks at how people in other countries are tackling the same issues. We hope it shows how a fuller and more exciting life is lived when drunkenness is avoided."

In commending the Report, Archbishop Eames said: "This is one of the most important Church reports on young people for some time and I welcome it as a serious and balanced study.

"The alcohol culture is now one of the most influential and negative ingredients in the lives of young people. In both the Republic and Northern Ireland the misuse of alcohol across the age-ranges contributes daily to road fatalities and injuries, anti-social behaviour on our streets, the breakdown of family relationships and the health and enjoyment of life.

"For young people alcohol misuse is now a stark reality and is accepted as a way of life for far too many. Society can no longer wipe its hands of responsibility through simple condemnation of the alcohol culture among our youth. Far more needs to be done to understand what contributes to the rapid rise in teenage drinking. The Church must come to terms with this social evil and take every opportunity to encourage the full understanding of the problem. Society as a whole must recognise the danger and the consequences for a new generation of young people of the misuse of alcohol."

Archbishop Eames emphasised what he described as 'frightening statistics' relating to alcohol misuse among young people.

"In the Republic there has been a 370% increase in levels of intoxication in public places by underage drinkers since 1996. 35% of sexually active teenagers cite alcohol as a factor in their engaging in sex. 60% of boys and 54% of girls aged between 15 and 17 years of age admit to having been 'really drunk'.

"One in five cases of emergency admissions to Irish hospitals are alcohol related.

"Alcohol consumption per capita in Ireland is the highest in the European Community. "In Northern Ireland the statistics are just as dramatic. Almost 80% of teenagers surveyed claim to have consumed alcohol by the age of 16.

"No matter what reasons are being advanced in the United Kingdom for lengthy opening hours of bars and restaurants where alcohol is available surely we are entitled to ask what effect these changes will have on the alcohol culture of young people?

"I commend this excellent Report to all parishes."

The Church in Society Social Justice & Theology Panel included Dean Gordon Wynne, Cashel & Ossory Diocese (Chairman); Dr Brendan Coffey, The Medical Centre, Bagenalstown; Sgt Martin O'Halloran, Bagenalstown Garda Station; the Revd Dr Andrew Pierce, Irish School of Ecumenics; the Revd Philip Heak, Diocesan Youth Officer, Cashel & Ossory.