Many parents are worried their youngsters will become addicted to hard drugs through nights out on the town.

It is far more likely they will run into trouble through excessive drinking of alcohol.

Thousands of teenagers and young adults go to pubs and clubs for the sole purpose of getting drunk.

It is in stark contrast to the attitude towards drink in many continental countries, where it's seen as a pleasant accompaniment to food.

Now the Portman Group is to launch a campaign targeting young drinkers in Brighton and Hove with a message against getting completely sozzled on a regular basis.

There has been an alarming rise in the number of young people dying from cirrhosis of the liver, which is usually a result of heavy drinking.

Drink-driving has been socially unacceptable for the last 30 years. It is time for society to adopt a similar attitude towards getting drunk.

Heavy drinking causes misery in many families. It can wreck careers and people's health. It often leads to violence and crime.

Getting legless may seem funny to youngsters for the first time. But it's not a long road from that to the sad drunks, not all of them old, seen on the streets of Brighton and Hove, and other resorts.