In the past month, Police have noticed many teenagers consuming alcohol in popular recreation areas such as the Lions Park, the town rotunda and Richardson Place.

Senior Constable Eddie Matias told the Roxby Downs Sun that he was concerned that under aged drinking seems to have become a social norm for both teenagers and adults alike.

He said keeping the situation under control was not only a responsibility of the youths in question, but also their parents.

"Under age drinking is occurring in public places where young people congregate," Constable Matias said.

"If parents allow their child to consume alcohol, it is important that it is done in the privacy of their home, where they are supervised by the parent and not put at risk."

The Constable agrees that young people who consume alcohol in public areas are more at risk of injury, assault and sexual predators.

"Most young people do not control their levels of consumption.

"When intoxicated, people suffer from poor judgement and become vulnerable to others who may not have proper intentions, they place them selves in risky situations unaware of their surroundings.”

The issue highlights various social factors within the community that lend themselves to underage drinking.

Family and Youth Officer Tom Beever works with young people and families on a daily basis and has seen first hand what alcohol can do to young people and their families.

He said families need to keep several things in mind when considering how much alcohol their children could be drinking.

"Under aged drinking is a problem that has existed for many years but has become more wide spread due to a number of factors," Mr Beever said.

"The variety of alcoholic drinks that is available today is phenomenal and many young people are drinking them because of elaborate advertising.

"The desire to be 'accepted' and to look and feel 'cool' is a huge factor for young people, (they) don't want to spend so much money on alcohol but feel they have to in order to be accepted."

He also said that the high incomes earned by the young males in Roxby Downs contributed significantly to the issue.

While there may be a stigma connected to the groups of young people that congregate around public areas, Mr Beever said people must not always assume the worst.

"It has always been important for young people to meet and often it's not in the place where adults would like," he said.

"Let's not assume that when we see young people gathering at night that their parents don't care and that the kids are all drinking, or drinking in excess."

Instead, he would like to see the issue resolved through parents creating stronger relationships with their teenage children.

"Parents need to be much more consistent with their children, some young people feel more connected with their friends than they do at home which is why they can't wait to get out," he said.

"Some parents need to spend much more time with their children and treat home as a home, not as an office or a place of work.

“Lead by a good example, be understanding, give a little but be firm with the boundaries of what is acceptable at home, school and friends and what is not."

There are currently several counseling services in Roxby Downs where young people can seek advice.

Local police are also working closely with licensed premises to reduce juvenile access to liquor.

There is extensive legislation to assist in dealing under aged drinking issues.

SAPOL encourages parents to discuss responsible alcohol consumption and remind the community that it is an offence to supply alcoholic beverages to a person less than 18 years of age.

It is also an offence for persons under 18 to possess or consume alcoholic beverages in public places.

If Police locate young people in a drunken state or in a position that appears to be at risk, the young person will be taken home and a mandatory notification will be made to Families SA.