Dr Francis Dakura, NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Jirapa, on Wednesday linked the excessive consumption and abuse of alcohol to poverty and frustrations and called for quick intervention to save the youth from the effects of substance abuse.
He said the youth were taking to alcohol for comfort since they are unemployed and there was therefore the need to create more job opportunities for them.
The MP was contributing to a statement on alcohol abuse made on the floor of Parliament by Mr Justice Joe Appiah, NPP MP for Ablekuma North.
Mr Appiah, earlier in his statement, said road traffic accidents, crime and other social vices could be linked alcohol abuse.
He said revenue to the state from the alcoholic drinks should not be seen to be more important than the social crimes associated with the abuse of the substance.
He blamed the adverts on alcoholic beverages, saying they falsely lured the youth into taking alcohol because they promised power, fulfilment and cures for many illnesses.
Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, NPP MP for Abuakwa South, said the reason why efforts should be made to stem the rising tide of alcohol abuse was because diseases such as cancers, cardio vascular ailments and liver problems are closely associated with the substance.
The Independent MP for Bosome-Freho, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, said the use of under-aged persons to man beer bars should be addressed to protect these young persons from the abuse of the substance.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement appealed to the Foods and Drugs Board to sit up and regulate the activities of persons producing various alcoholic beverages with claims of cures for various medical conditions.
They said adverts being run should also be regulated and those on alcohol should not be shown on television before 2100 hours when children were still behind television sets.