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British Police Crack Down on Underage Drinkers

by Medindia Content Team on Apr 11 2008 11:57 AM

Police confiscated 44,000 pints of alcohol from underage drinkers in February during the largest ever crackdown on drinking by teenagers.

The two-week operation by 39 forces across England and Wales costing 700,000 pounds, saw alcoholic drinks confiscated from more than 5000 youngsters under the age of 18.

The drinks seized were 70 percent beer, 15 percent cider, five percent alcopops, five percent wine and five percent spirits.

Home Office spokesman Vernon Coaker said: "I want to remind parents of their responsibility and where poor parenting is identified as an issue I want to see greater use of parenting contracts to tackle persistent underage drinking".

The Home Office also gave details of a separate campaign targeting 1,700 poorly managed licensed premises in 30 police force areas last December.

"As stores have tightened their sales policies, teenagers appear to be more reliant on a mix of rogue retailers and, increasingly, adults who've either been cajoled or bullied into buying it on their behalf," said Frank Soodean, a spokesman for Alcohol Concern which campaigns against alcohol misuse.

"Kids are smart. They seem to have cottoned on to this loophole," he added.

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The police said that information gathered during the drive would help them to monitor trouble spots and individuals more effectively.

Source-AFP
SRM/L


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