Adelaide Vicar-General Monsignor David Cappo has backed a call by church leaders for urgent action to address binge drinking among young people.
Adelaide Now reports Msgr Cappo, who is also chairman of the State Government's Social Inclusion Unit, said heavy drinking and alcohol abuse was becoming a disturbing pattern in young people's lives.
"This is dangerous for these people and for the whole community and we cannot accept this behaviour as the 'norm'," he said.
"The impact and cost, economically and socially, of alcohol misuse and abuse cannot be underestimated.
"Motor vehicle crashes, violent and aggressive behaviour, assaults and health problems - physical and mental - can all be consequences . . . ultimately these issues can also put cost pressures on our health and welfare system and in turn, taxpayers."
Monsignor Cappo joined Adelaide Anglican Archbishop Jeffrey Driver who says binge drinkers are abusing their right to a "full and rich life".
Archbishop Driver said binge drinking could only be addressed by society as a whole and must offer an alternative to the "self-indulgence of 'getting wasted'."
Uniting Church SA Moderator Rod Dyson called for a ban on alcohol advertising similar to bans on promoting cigarettes.
"It is not in the best interests of our community to actively promote and advertise alcohol," he said. "We warn about the dangers of smoking and other drugs and we ban smoking in public places, yet we still allow alcohol advertising."
SOURCE
Churches warn against wasting lives (Adelaide Now, 16/6/08)
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Monsignor David Cappo (Adelaide Archdiocese)