More than 50 community groups, organisations and health experts have made submissions to a NSW Parliament inquiry into young people and alcohol abuse, including at least three from the Illawarra.

In one submission, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Drug and Alcohol Service manager David Hedger suggested increasing the minimum drinking age could help reduce the state's road toll, given young drivers were over-represented in all fatal crashes.

He said parents were powerful figures when it came to influencing children and they played a key role in modifying their child's risky behaviour on the road.

A study also found that parents were the most common source of alcohol and Mr Hedger urged a review of legislation which allows parents to provide alcoholic beverages to their children.

In her submission to the inquest, Illawarra Forum chief executive Nicky Sloan said the promotion of alcohol to young people needed to be better regulated, while parents should be targeted in advertising about the dangers of introducing children to alcohol.

"Advertising should also highlight the fact that parents have the right to say no to supplying alcohol to their teenagers," she said.

Ms Sloan also highlighted some of the alarming social trends for young people, including pre-drinking before heading out, the growing popularity of dance parties and the reduced stigma of "goon bags".

There needed to be greater awareness of the issues of supplying alcohol to minors and increased penalties for those who do so, Ms Sloan said.

"Technology could be developed that linked barcodes on alcohol with the credit cards or loyalty cards of the purchaser, thereby making detection of secondary suppliers more streamlined," she said.