Underage drinking forum set up in Scotland

Public health minister Shona Robison announced the move on Tuesday (2 September) at the Scottish Government's summit on underage drinking in Edinburgh.

She said the forum would allow young people to give direct feedback to ministers and that young people themselves were the key to getting to grips with underage drinking.

Robison said: "We recognise that alcohol misuse is a societal issue in Scotland and by no means restricted to young people. But drinking habits are formed early, so it's vital we hear what young people think should be done if we are to bring about the cultural shift needed to rebalance Scotland's relationship with alcohol."

Robison said that young people themselves were at greater risk of being the victims of alcohol-related violence than older people.

In 2006, 36 per cent of 15-year-olds and 14 per cent of 13-year-olds in Scotland drank alcohol in the previous week.

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of 15-year-olds and 17 per cent of 13-year-olds who had drunk alcohol said they have been in trouble with the police due to drinking.