KENT County Council supports the Conservatives in their plan to introduce higher taxation on alcopops to tackle binge drinking.

Cabinet member for public health, Graham Gibbens, believes higher taxes should be applied to strong alcoholic drinks.

"Alcopops are not taxed sufficiently to discourage people," he said. "Higher taxation is something KCC is fully behind and fully supportive of."

So much so the public health select committee has already included it as a recommendation in its report on Alcohol Misuse, which is being presented to cabinet on March 17.

The report also recommends the need for better education for young people so they understand the implications of drinking early.

Mr Gibbens added: "Alcohol is a now strategy issue for local authorities, which is why I commissioned a select committee to look at the health impacts of alcohol within the community.

"New research carried out by BBC Panorama last year showed youngsters drinking before they are sexually mature impacts their fertility and it never recovers.

"I am concerned about the impact of binge drinking on young people. Twenty-four hour drinking has not been successful and I can't understand why the Government says that it has been."

But Brian Rees, the secretary of the Kent Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association, believes the new late drinking laws have been a success and binge drinking has been caused by easy access to cheap alcohol from supermarkets and the influence of the drug culture in society.

He said: "Drugs are the biggest threat to the drinks trade because they are now cheaper than alcohol."

KCC are also planning to run a public health campaign for schools as one of their 2010 targets to raise awareness about dangers of alcohol, drugs and teenage sex.

Mr Gibbens added: "There is an acceptance that alcohol is ok but it is just as bad as drugs.

"We also need stronger legislation to make it harder to buy alcohol from premises."