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Survey Finds Wales Has Huge Underage Drinking Problem
June 19, 2008

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News Summary

A new health survey conducted in 40 countries finds that Welsh children were the most likely to have been drunk multiple times before reaching the age of 13, the BBC reported June 18.

The study, conducted by the World Health Organization in Europe and North America, also found that 15-year-old girls in Wales also were the most likely to have tried marijuana. Researchers questioned 250,000 youths ages 11, 12, and 15.

"The whole of our culture is based on drinking," said Keith Towler, Children's Commissioner for Wales. "As adults we have got to think of our responsibilities to children and what example we are setting."

Kathryn Allen of the youth group Promo Cymru agreed, saying, "There are pubs on every corner, there are shops everywhere selling cheap alcohol and we have the issues with binge drinking. This is a society issue."

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