The OECD says more spending on disadvantaged youngsters is the answer...
"The UK spends more than 90,000 per child from birth to the age of 18, above the OECD average of 80,000, but more than one-in-ten 15-19-year-olds are not in school, training or work, and educational results are "low relative to spending levels", the OECD said.
The UK performed worse than average in the study of overall child wellbeing, and was also poor in terms of risky behaviour, with high levels of under-age drinking and teenage pregnancy rates.
An OECD spokesman said: "The report concludes that the United Kingdom should spend more on younger, disadvantaged children...
..."Equally, the United Kingdom government should ensure that current high rates of spending on older children are much more effective in meeting the needs of the disadvantaged amongst them.""
Politicians on the other hand...
"SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson said the details exposed in the report were "shameful" and called for support for Scottish Government proposals to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and to ensure licensing boards considered raising the age limit for off-sales of alcohol."
http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-teenagers-most-likely-in-the-world-to-get-drunk-says-report-1-772488