Jill Evans, Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales leader in the European Parliament, has welcomed the strengthening of a European Commission initiative, which aims to counter the alarming levels of drinking by children and adolescents.

Speaking in the Strasbourg Parliament this week, Ms Evans said:

"All the statistics show that the numbers of children and adolescents drinking has reached alarming levels over the past decade, and so I congratulate the Commission for this welcome initiative, an initiative which has now been strengthened.

"Children and young people are drinking alcohol more frequently and starting, not only to drink, but to get drunk at a younger and younger age.

"In Wales, half of all 15 year olds drink beer every week. And whilst I would usually welcome equality between the sexes, in this case we can only regret that over the past decade the number of girls drinking excessively has almost equalled that of boys in most member states.

"Young people must be able to make their own informed decisions about alcohol. The report refers to the importance of involving young people themselves in the campaign to prevent alcohol abuse so that the right positive images and messages are used. Perhaps then the messages will reach young people and have an influence on them."

Jill Evans, who represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament, added that the deliberate targeting of alcohol products at young people must stop:

"We must have effective labelling and advertising of the dangers of alcohol, as well as readily available information promoting healthy living. In this way, we may be able to stem the increasing prevalence of alcohol, which can be so destructive, in the lives of young people."

DIWEDD/END.