Alcohol misuse in young people is of growing concern, even though alcohol consumption among adolescents has declined over recent years. Many 15 year olds have already consumed alcohol and adolsecents tend to consume large quantities of alcohol in one sitting. This article describes the problem of alcohol misuse in young people and the nurse’s role in the prevention and treatment of alcohol misuse in this population. A stepped care, holistic approach is recommended, taking into consideration peer and family influence on alcohol misuse and the young person’s motivation to change their behaviour.