Doctor worried about number of young patients treated for knife and glass injuries

Fifty percent of teenagers aged between 15 and 16 in the Greater Belfast area regularly drink alcohol, according to a survey.

Researchers from the Royal Victoria Hospital and Queen's University found binge drinking was a growing problem after surveying hundreds of fifth formers.

About 90% of the young people questioned had drunk alcohol, while about 50% said they were regular drinkers.

About 40% said they had been drunk in the previous month.

The survey also found about 25% had been in some sort of trouble with police after drinking alcohol.

Dr John Marley, dental surgeon at Royal Victoria Hospital, began the survey along with colleagues at Queen's following concerns over the number of young patients he was treating for knife and glass injuries.

"These adolescents, by virtue of being intoxicated by binge drinking, can find themselves in an environment that they don't recognise as being potentially dangerous because they are effectively anesthetised.

"Even if they did realise they were in a potentially dangerous situation, they either can't get away quick enough because of the anesthetic properties of the alcohol, or it has imbued them with a false bravado that makes them feel they can take on the situation," he said.

Anyone with concerns about underage drinking can phone a BBC helpline number on 0800 099 099.