A quarter of Dutch 15- and 16-year-olds drink alcohol on more than 10 occasions a month, compared with a European average of one in 10, according to new European research.

And 30% have tried smoking cannabis, compared with 19% of European teenagers as a whole. The use of other drugs, including cocaine and exctasy, is in line with EU averages.
The Espad research shows that Dutch teenagers also tend to drink more than most of their European counterparts. Only Danish, English and Norwegian teenagers are heavier drinkers.