A serene English monastery hardly seems a plausible birthplace for Britain’s anti-social behavior epidemic.

But Scottish authorities have tracked all society’s ills to the monks of Devon’s Buckfast Abbey and their quaint alcoholic yield – Buckfast Tonic Wine.

Brewed since the 19th century by these Benedictine monks, and affectionately known by its loyal following as ‘Buckie’, the sweet, thick tonic is 15% AbV, high in caffeine and particularly popular among underage drinkers – hence the public concern.

And there’s no doubt, we’re sure, that bored, disillusioned youth would be far better behaved, more scholarly and home before dark if they were instead taken to drinking beer, rum, whisky or colorful, sweet pre-mix spirits.

How lucky to be Scotland. While communities of disaffected kids the world over battle meth addiction and petrol sniffing, they’re concerned instead with this peculiar (and actually quite vile) boutique Benedictine brew.

What next? The war on ginger wine?

Binge drinking - the Benedictine connection [BBC]