MORE than 400 children under the age of 15 were treated in hospital for drink-related conditions in a year.

Official statistics show that in 2006-7, 428 under 15s needed medical treatment because of booze - 206 boys and 222 girls.

The figure is up from the previous year, when 390 youngsters under 15 were admitted with drink-related conditions.

But it is less than in 2002-03 when the total was 463.

Glasgow Kelvin MSP and Labour's justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said: "We need to identify how they are getting hold of their alcohol and penalise those shops that are putting profits before the law."

The 2006-7 statistics also showed that 1648 youths, aged 15 to 19 were admitted for treatment for alcohol-related conditions - 1006 males and 642 females.

Of those 428 under 15s who needed medical help, two were diagnosed with alcoholic gastritis - an inflammation of part of the stomach caused by excessive drinking.

In addition 73 were suffering from the toxic effects of alcohol while 308 were treated for "mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol".

Ms McNeill added: "We also need to further educate our young people about the consequences of alcohol abuse.

"Under age drinking often leads to anti-social behaviour in our communities but it can also put young people in extremely vulnerable positions.

"The consequences of excessive and under age drinking can be linked to mental and behavioural problems in the future."

The figures also revealed that in 2006-7 more than 1000 young people under the age of 20 were put on the Scottish Drug Misuse Database after coming forward for help with drugs problems.

Of the new patients on the database 149 were aged under 15, 903 were aged between 15 and 19 and 2075 were in the 20 to 24 age range.

The figures also revealed that 15% of drug users under the age of 25 had a drugs problem by the time they reached 15.

Most - 63% - developed a drug problem between the ages of 15 and 19 years old while 22% said their drug problems began between 22 and 24.