Dr Eames spoke of his concerns at the report's findings

The all Ireland report into the drinking habits of young people was launched by Archbishop Robin Eames in Belfast on Tuesday.

The report demands action to curb what it describes as an epidemic among the youth of Ireland.

The report suggests alcohol abuse is ruining young people's lives.

The Church's Social Justice and Theology Panel, which compiled the report, said it wanted to emphasise that young people can live fuller lives without getting drunk but also stressed that it did not want to preach.

"The report looks at how we can educate young people about the effects of over-indulgence in alcohol and how people in other countries are tackling the same issues," said Dean Gordon Wynne, the panel chairman.

REPORT FINDINGS Almost 80% of NI teenagers surveyed consumed alcohol by the age of 16. Alcohol consumption per capita in Ireland highest in EU One in five A&E admissions to Irish hospitals alcohol-related Up to 35% of teenagers cite alcohol as a factor in their engaging in sex

Dr Eames described the research as a serious and balanced study and said it was a highly important document.

"The alcohol culture is now one of the most influential and negative ingredients in the lives of young people," he added.

He said that alcohol abuse contributed daily to road fatalities and injuries, anti-social behaviour, family break-ups and poor health.

"For young people, alcohol misuse is now a stark reality and is accepted as a way of life for far too many," he added.

Under-age drinkers

"Society can no longer wipe its hands of responsibility through simple condemnation of the alcohol culture among our youth.

"Far more needs to be done to understand what contributes to the rapid rise in teenage drinking.

"The Church must come to terms with this social evil and take every opportunity to encourage the full understanding of the problem.

"Society as a whole must recognise the danger and the consequences for a new generation of young people of the misuse of alcohol."

Some of the statistics highlighted by the report include: