All cases where blood samples were taken from juveniles were examined over the first 6 months of the years 1961, 1968, 1972 and 1976. Blood alcohol values were obtained by the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and Widmark methods, while personal data (age, sex, profession, etc.) and the reasons for arrest were obtained from police reports. Over the period of investigation, the proportion of traffic and criminal offenses was relatively constant; with 64 percent of young delinquents being involved in traffic accidents or arrested for drunken driving, and 36 percent charged with committing criminal offenses. Analysis of the distribution of blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) showed that both in criminal cases and in traffic offense cases there was a considerable and steady increase in BAC levels to higher values between 0.18 to 0.22 percent, in all age groups except 18-year-olds, especially from 1972 to 1976. The largest increase in BAC levels occurred among the group of the relatively young -- the 13-to-16-year-olds. It is concluded that recent trends show a growing number of young alcohol consumers and abusers who drink more and at an earlier age. Urgent countermeasures, such as information and therapeutic programs, are recommended to prevent further alcohol abuse and to treat those who are already alcohol dependent. Five graphs and one reference are provided.