Young Czechs out-drink young Slovaks

The biggest group of drinkers in Europe are young Czechs, and although Slovaks are close behind them, there has been an improvement in Slovak youth in this regard, according to a report in the SME daily on Thursday. The daily states that Czech and Slovak children can buy alcohol without major problems because the penalties which exist do not discourage the sellers. Despite this, Slovak children now drink less than they did four years ago, according to a lifestyle study produced by the World Health Organisation. The study has shown that although Slovak children have their first taste of alcohol early, they often don't return to it until later. The number of schoolchildren under 15 who drink regularly and too much has gone down by around 10 percent. "Drinking has ceased to be as popular as it was ten years ago. It's a reflection of changes in society", said Doctor Tibor Baška from the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University in Bratislava. According to the study, the percentage of children who have tasted alcohol before the age of 13 has gone down. However, the number of children who have experienced being drunk at this age has increased. "The main problem is drinking with the aim of getting drunk", said Baška. According to him, the highest risk when it comes to developing an addiction is with spirits and beer, with wine posing a lower risk. According to Baška, the problem is with social responsibility, which must be appealed to. "Many people still don't consider it to be immoral to give alcohol to an adolescent. I see this as a major problem", he said. Many psychologists criticise alcohol advertising, with attractive young people sipping drinks in an attractive environment, having fun and enjoying success with the opposite sex.