Research shows that, in England, people under the age of 25 drink more than other age groups, and they are doing this well below the legal drinking age. It is obvious that much crime is accompanied by heavy drinking. What is less clear is the extent to which consumption is the cause of offending. There is a considerable body of research which indicates that a high proportion of imprisoned offenders are heavy or "problem" drinkers. However, the response of Young Offender Institutions to alcohol and drug users is at present a patchy and uncoordinated one. The reasons given for this inadequacy were lack of officer time to run groups, limited availability of suitable training, and lack of funds to run programs. The strategies that should be adopted with regard to services provided in custody to young offenders include: provision of drug and alcohol education to offenders; training for staff to co-run groups with probation or external agencies; and establishment of a national communications network to assist those working with young abusers. Appendix.