The Victorian Government's top alcohol adviser has stated that the legal drinking age could be lifted to 21, if attempts fail to curb binge drinking among the young.

Professor Jon Currie, chairman of the Victorian Drug and Alcohol Prevention Council, has said that lifting the legal drinking age would be a last resort, however it definitely should be an option.

It was reported that recommendations on how to deal with the growing level of alcohol abuse by young people will be made to the Brumby Government by Professor Currie within the next few months.

Prof Currie, who is also the director of addiction medicine and mental health at St Vincent's Hospital, noted social, educational and parental strategies as important in the attempt to change dangerous drinking habits, saying if these failed "governments will inevitably look at legal ramifications or legal restrictions".

"There might be a two year discussion period that would give a very strong message to people that either we change the environment ourselves or the government will do it," Prof Currie said.

In the US and some provinces in Canada, 21 is the legal drinking age.

Amongst the supporters of a lifted drinking age is Deakin University professor of health psychology John Toumbouruo.

"In countries or states where it has been introduced there has been a 15 per cent reduction of deaths and harm related to alcohol," he said.

Tags: alcohol