Alcohol abuse up among youngsters

Alcohol consumption is being considered as "risky" as from 6 glasses on a single occasion. 19 per cent of the male respondents admitted drinking 6 glasses of alcohol or more within 2 hours at least once a week.

This figure is up from 12 per cent in 2008 and 14 per cent in 2013. Binge drinking remains a cause for concern, although there are big regional differences. Figures for Wallonia (29 per cent) are almost double the figures for Flanders (15 per cent) with Brussels at 5 per cent.

While youngsters drink a lot on the same occasion, this is better spread among more mature adults, who also drink alcohol at a slower pace. One last statistic: 13 per cent of the Belgian population says that he or she has never touched a drop of alcohol, that's about 1 in 8 people.