BBC: A leading medical expert says lowering the legal drinking age to 16 could help tackle the UK's binge culture.
Prof John Ashton claims the best way to encourage teenagers to drink responsibly is to treat them as adults.
Prof Ashton, Director of Public Health at Cumbria NHS Primary Care Trust, said most youngsters are already consuming alcohol by the age of 16.
Illicit drinking encouraged risky activities like unprotected sex and anti-social behaviour, he said.
On Thursday, the Home Office announced that fewer under-18s were able to buy alcohol after a crackdown on traders selling to youngsters.
A spokesman called the figures "particularly encouraging".
But Prof Ashton believes that over-16s should be welcomed into pubs for their own safety. Reduce drinking age, says expert (more)
Mark Alexander
