Among 15-year-olds, 40 per cent of boys and 46 per cent of girls said they had had an alcoholic drink in the past week.

A Scottish Crime and Victimisation survey found that almost half of people were worried about under-16s in their household drinking alcohol.

Tom Roberts, from the charity Children 1st, said: "The number of children and young people in Scotland drinking is really concerning.

"As well as damaging their health, being under the influence of alcohol lowers their inhibitions and leaves young people more at risk of harm," he went on.

"The availability of alcohol in Scotland has got to be called into question.

"Just as importantly, adults who drink have to be aware of the damaging message they are giving out that you can't have a good time unless you're drinking or drunk.

"We must examine why young people feel the need to drink in the first place – is it because of a lack of other activities? And we need to look at the culture in Scotland where drinking to excess is often seen as socially acceptable."

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