There is a whole generation of Victorian teenagers, over a quarter of 15-year-olds, binge drinking till they black out, the point at which brain damage is likely to occur.

Research also reveals that over a third of 11-year-old boys have consumed alcohol, which figures contained in the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute study, have raised the alarm amongst brain development experts, who say an entire generation of young people are destroying all their chances of achieving their full potential.

Liberal licensing laws have created an epidemic of alcohol-fuelled injury and violence, which is why family groups and adolescent experts are calling for the legal drinking age to be raised to 21.

The first of its kind in over a decade, the study found cases of alcohol-related harm in Victoria to have risen 77% in the 10-years to 2005.

According to Victoria Police statistics, Assaults in Melbourne rose 44% to close to 2500-cases a year, in the past 10-years, both figures far exceeding other states and largely involving young people.

Between 1995 and 2005, cases for hospitalisation in Victoria, because of alcohol-related harm more than doubled from 11,571 to 23,144. NSW saw an increase f less than 30%, while the average across Australia stood at 32%.

Over the same period, a National Drug Research Institute study revealed the number of licensed premises in Victoria to have increased from 2000 to 24,000.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, adolescent psychologist said the legal drinking age of 21 was ‘a fabulous idea’, as when the same was done in Washington DC, there were far fewer incidents of alcohol-related harm.

Prof. Tanya Chikritzhs, who participated in the research said, increasing liquor availability meant increased consumption, resulting in harm.

‘Every week, on average, risky or high-risk drinking is killing more than 60-Australians and putting another 1500-people in hospital, due to injury or disease that is entirely preventable’.

Australian Medical Association called the findings highly disturbing and a big reality check for the Australian Government and the community, in general.

Spokeswoman Gabrielle Walsh from Australian Family Association asked for reining in the spread of licensed venues, including considering raising the legal drinking age to 21. She also said the liquor licensing regime was too liberal; even while the difficulties stemming from alcohol e.g. alcohol addiction and violence that came from it.

The effects of under-age drinking are already visible, as seen in the sharp rise in the numbers of women in their 20s being diagnosed with alcohol-acquired brain injury, a problem health experts believe will have long-term consequences for industry and the wider economy, as more employees find it harder to maintain sophisticated jobs.

The study will be published in the journal Health Promotion International.

The National Preventative Health Taskforce has recently put together a plan for creating a safer drinking culture, including urging measures like limiting alcohol promotion amongst young people, ensuring pricing encouraged consumption of low-alcohol content beverages, and focusing more on licensing.