According to a new report from the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, 90% of 12 to 17-year-olds in the state have used alcohol; the report also reveals that the level of risky drinking by adults has decreased from 50% to 30% in men and 37 to 27% in women.
The state's Health Minister John Della Bosca says a new report shows an increasing number of teenagers are drinking alcohol and drinking by young people is putting the state's health system under pressure.
Della Bosca says since the year 2000 there has been a 130% increase in alcohol-related emergency department presentations for people aged 18-24 years which has placed more pressure on doctors and nurses and underlines the seriousness of the problem.
Mr Della Bosca blames a change in the culture of drinking for the increase and says changes in the operating hours of hotels and young people's venues and also a change in the culture around alcohol and its presentation is needed.
In NSW alcohol is estimated to cause 1,220 deaths and 47,000 hospitalisations a year and alcohol abuse in terms of policing and health care costs the state around $15 billion.
Della Bosca has called for a public debate about drinking and for restrictions on alcohol advertising and says it is time for a cultural shift on alcohol.
Many experts believe restricting the advertising of alcohol can reduce alcohol consumption and other countries have already done this.
Mr Della Bosca says it is the next generation of drinkers - older children and teenagers, who are being influenced by the sophisticated promotion and advertising of alcohol and the distorted messages about success, popularity, sophistication and attractiveness.