Binge drinking at own expense

Young people will have to pay for their alcohol-related treatment in hospital from now on. At least if it is up to Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan. “Alcohol abuse among adolescents is becoming a major problem. It costs society more and more money,” said Van der Laan in daily newspaper de Volkskrant yesterday.

The number of young Dutch people who are being hospitalized after drinking too much alcohol is going up each year. This year, an ambulance was needed 575 times to pick up youngsters for alcohol-related treatment on Queen Day in Amsterdam only.

Whether it is legally possible to recoup the costs for hospital visits from the young drinkers is not clear yet. A change in the law might be necessary.

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