A philanthropic foundation says an anti-drink campaign being run by it has been refused on high-profile billboard sites near Dublin.

The Cork-based Tomar Trust said it has been refused space on the grounds that it is "too political."

The 'Drink is a Drug' campaign aims to encourage parents to delay the age at which young people drink alcohol.

The trust has been providing funding for education, community development, health and sports for young people for over two decades.

The campaign, which has run previously in both print and outdoor, was declined by a media agency as it was deemed 'political advertising'.

Campaign spokesperson Declan Bourke said: "Is it ok for our children to be exposed to messages glorifying drink and drawing positive associations with sport and aspirational living, but not to see an ad pointing out the dangers of underage drinking?

"Society is not being served well here."

"This is the second time elements of the advertising community have refused to communicate this message."

The group says their 'Drink is a Drug' message seeks to counter "the glorification of alcohol in advertising" by stating a simple fact.

Alcohol consumption during teenage years has been shown to cause lifelong brain damage, as the brain is still developing.

Alongside the risk of developing dependence on alcohol in later years, alcohol in adolescence has been linked to a number of developmental issues.

Eunan McKinney of Alcohol Action Ireland added: "Every day our children are unfairly exposed to a tsunami of alcohol marketing - it's present on every phone, in every high street and every home.

"No longer can we, as a society, accept that the alcohol industry can retain the principal role as the educators of our young on their relationship with alcohol."