COLOGNE, Germany, Aug 5 (AFP) - An increasing number of young Germans are having unprotected sex despite figures showing that the use of condoms has helped stop thousands of cases of HIV, according to a report released Thursday.
The "Prevention Works" report, published by the federal health information centre, said that 78 percent of young people who had sex with more than one partner in 2003 used condoms compared to 83 percent in 2001.
The report said that the government's "Give AIDS No Chance" programme had helped avert some 25,000 cases of HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, since 1987.
It added that the prevention efforts had led to annual health savings of 450 million euros (541 million dollars).
According to statistics from the Robert Koch health institute from 2002, some 65,000 people have contracted HIV since it surfaced in the 1980s, 22,000 of whom have died.
The report, published in Cologne, western Germany, also warned of the growing dangers from tobacco for young people, who it said were more and more attracted by advertising portraying smoking as dynamic and fashionable.
The authorities estimate that smoking claims around 140,000 lives and that diseases related to it cost the health system some 17 million euros annually.
The document also pointed out a growing trend toward the use of "alcopops" -- bottled or canned fizzy drinks mixed with mostly with rum or vodka.
"Almost one in two of the 3.8 million young people aged between 14 and 17 consume (them) at least once a month," it said.
A new tax of 80 to 90 euro cents has just been introduced on alcopops in Germany which it is hoped will reduce the number of young people drinking them.
The appearance of cheap alcohol on the market and advertising for it aimed at young Germans also came in for criticism in the report.
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