The survey has placed the city at the “higher end” of underage drinking rates — and academics who have covertly tested bottle shops say it’s too easy for teenagers to purchase liquor. 

Alarming results uncovered by Deakin University researchers show 57 per cent of 300 14-year-olds have tried drinking. 

Health Psychology Professor John Toumbourou told The Standard that bottle shops in the city had been lax in enforcing age checks on customers.

But he also blamed a strong culture of parents supplying their children with liquor.  

“One of the things we’ve found in our study is that the rate in the (country) regions is slightly higher,” Professor Toumbourou said. 

“We’ve noticed that parents seem to be ready to supply alcohol ... country areas seem to have more of this at the moment.” 

He said parents needed to rethink buying booze for their kids or offering them drinks at home from a young age. 

“It’s a very cultural thing,” he explained. “Those kids who start drinking early don’t tend to drink moderately after they turn 18.” 

Teenagers who start drinking earlier also damage their chances of finishing secondary school. The academic said regional cities such as Warrnambool also had more bottle shops per capita of population compared to metropolitan areas. 

Researchers recently sent young looking but legal-aged adults into bottle shops to gauge the rate of ID requests. Many staff didn’t bother to ask for a licence or proof of age.

Professor Toumbourou said those outlets had since been notified. 

“We are going to keep checking,” he warned. 

The survey will continue later this year when teenagers will again be quizzed on their drinking habits. 

“We’re hoping to measure a reduction in drinking in Warrnambool. Those figures can definitely be reduced,” he said. 

Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre director Geoff Soma said a culture of “drinking to get drunk” was deeply entrenched in everything from celebrations to sporting clubs. 

Underage drinkers often slip under the radar of groups such as WRAD because those who seek out help are usually older and their drinking has reached crisis levels, he said. 

Mr Soma pinpointed issues around peer pressure, trouble at home and, in extreme cases, sexual abuse as pathways to underage drinking. 

“Ideally you want to suggest to people to leave it as long as possible (to drink) but it can be very difficult in those situations,” he said. 

He said issues such as the number of bottle shops and alcohol advertising warranted further study. 

“Ignoring it is not going to make any difference.  There needs to be more research.” 

s.mccomish@fairfaxmedia.com.au