Irish teens biggest binge drinkers in EU - survey . (unchanged since 1999)

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2004/1214/breaking59.htm

Irish teenagers are the biggest binge drinkers in the European Union, and girls are outstripping boys, according to a report published today.

The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) found that, in 2003, 32 per cent of all Irish teenagers admitted binge drinking, followed by 28 per cent in The Netherlands, and 27 per cent in both the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man. Ireland's position at the top of the table remains unchanged since 1999.

...

Irish girls (33 per cent) binge drank more than their male counterparts (31 per cent), the survey said. The only other countries where more girls admitted binge-drinking than boys were the United Kingdom, where 29 per cent of girls and 26 per cent of boys admitted doing so and the Isle of Man (30 per cent compared with 26 per cent).

binge drinking was pretty common among my Catholic High School classmates in the late '70s. Nothing new.

Yep ... its starting to get bad when small towns and villages in ireland are being terrorized by louts.

http://www.nationalist.ie/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Newspaper/Article&pid=1020416671961&cid=1101722860583

Residents in the Old Bridge area of Clonmel, which was again devastated by flooding at the end of October, have been struggling to cope with another problem in their midst – the rising tide of anti-social behaviour.
However the fed-up people of the Old Bridge recently said enough is enough and requested meetings with the local Gardai, a course of action which they say has improved the situation.
The trouble caused over recent months, which includes the slashing of car tyres and the burning of wheel bins, has been blamed on gangs of children and youths aged between 13 and 18.
Most of the troublemakers aren’t from the area, although it has been claimed that some are local.
Sean Prendergast is a spokesperson for the residents. Although he no longer lives there, he’s originally from the Old Bridge and several members of his family including his mother, son, sister and brothers live in the area.
He says that gangs are congregating at the laneway near St. Nicholas Cemetery and William O’Brien Street, where they indulge in late-night drinking. They were also causing a disturbance by shouting and roaring late at night, and people were afraid to go to the local shop after dark.