Christian revival is the way.

Its always the way.

When some of the Welsh revivals broke out... whole police districts virtually closed down such was the complete life changing experience of receiving Jesus Christ into the lives of the common people.

Getting set free at becoming "born again" is so common:)

A brilliant back-up is still AA and the 12 Steps.

Prayer to God opens any man/woman to complete freedom.

Governments need to encourage Christian revival just to lower crime rates and ease the pressure on society.

Bronwyn “This is a problem that has to be owned by the whole of society.”

The consequence of the problem is owned by all of society.

But the "problem" is limited to those individuals who lack the restraint and self control to resist binge drinking.

Ultimately, we are all free to binge or to not binge.

Being one who learned at a fairly early age, through experience, the negative side-effects of excessive drinking, I can assure you the problem I addressed in the shortcomings of my own behavior was my responsibility and mine alone.

The consequences of binge drinking are what ends up being “owned by the whole of society”, not the cause, the cause always has and always will be individual people acting irresponsibly.

Hence penalties for excessive and abusive drinking should suffer a penalty separate to those users of alcohol who treat their indulgence with responsible moderation. Therefore direct fines for public intoxication penalize the abusers, whereas higher alcohol prices penalize the responsible as well as the irresponsible.

Hence “we all need to be part of the solution”
Those who conform with notions of responsible drinking are already part of the solution, it is only those who choose to ignore personal responsibility and restraint who create the problem we need to solve

Gibo doubtless there are many who would benefit from AA 12 steps.

But the problem is many binge drinkers do not recognize they have a problem and if you ask anyone at AA, you will find out step one is for the alcoholic’s own acceptance / recognition of the problem.

I have an issue with the concept the thread is predicated upon. To echo Bronwyn, this isn't just about teenagers.

I think we'd be hypocrites to point our fingers at teenagers and tell them off, given that you can walk to almost any pub late at night and see a fair share of people incredibly drunk, who haven't been teenagers for many years.

The problem isn't teenage binge drinking, it's binge drinking, period. I've got to more-or-less side with Col on this one.

I can only confirm that part of my nephew's
problem is that he doesn't think he has one,
because he doesn't always drink every day.

Getting him to admit that he does have a
problem would be a big step in the right
direction.

In a north coast of NSW country village for 25 years I know of a weekend is set aside for the Massacre, thats what they proudly call it.
No women allowed 4x4s loaded down with grog a three day weekend of nothing but drinking.
Far from kids the average age is 25, year long story's about last years and looking forward to this follow.
Drinking is every day part of our life.
I can say without the Saturday night dances, still one some place within driving range most Saturdays drinking seems the only entertainment.
Blame the victims Col?
No most of us are not like that,give them something to do, we just have to do better answers may come in this thread but it will not be blame only the current drinkers.
Any teenage drinking party, any I have cleaned up after, sees beer half filled bottles hidden in shrubbery spilled on the ground, just wasted , some want only to be seen drinking.
I was no different for a very long time drinking propped up my social life.
No I still drink not as much not as often but sometimes if in company just a bit more than I intended.

Foxy “Getting him to admit that he does have a
problem would be a big step in the right
direction.”

Exactly

My partner has declared “tough love” on her one remaining son. She now refuses to support him in any way. He can end up hitting bottom and living in hedge-rows before she will enable his alcohol and drug dependency any more. She maintains her resolve principally by participating in regular meetings of Al-Anon and following the counsel of other parents who have been forced into dealing with their own out of control youth and family members.

Belly “Blame the victims Col?”

show me where I have suggested anything which "blames" anyone Belly or withdraw your gratuitous comment. I have merely placed responsibility for self control at the feet of those who deliberately ignore it, to the detrement of everyone else.

Maybe you can identify how someone, exercising their sovereign right to be a complete moron, is a “victim”?

As far as I am concerned Belly, the “Victims” are not the drunken bums but the families of the drunken bums who suffer the domestic violence, destruction of home and property through their family association with people who ignore all responsibility for self control .

Pretending binge drinks are the “victims” of either peer pressure or modern advertising is to presume they are cognitively incompetent.

If they were legally “incompetent”, they would not be allowed to vote in elections or hold a driving licence.

Maybe you defend them because the victims of their own incompetence are the sort of dullards who end up paying your union fees and whose votes put your labor party into office?