Police seize alcohol from under-age drinkers

SIXTY one litres of illicitly-obtained booze have been seized from under-age drinkers in a half-term clamp-down by police.

The move, aided by special Government funding, was aimed at hitting drink-fuelled teenage rowdyism and vandalism at source.

While surprised at the sheer quantity of alcohol seized, police say the operation achieved its objective of cutting the amount of trouble caused by youngsters over the holiday.

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A new police poster campaign has the slogan: "Buying them beer will cost you dear."

It is headed: "Over 18 and want to save 5,000?" and adds "Then DON'T by alcoholic drinks for the under 18s. It is a criminal offence for which you could be fined up to 5,000."

Inspector James Scott of the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team said police officers assisted by Police Community Support Officers took part in special operations.

"We seized a total of 61 litres of alcoholic drinks - and that was just over the two weekends in the town centre over the half-term holiday.

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"Mainly the drink was seized on the seafront and in Western Road.

"There was special funding available from the Home Office directed at tackling under-age drinking which is a main cause of anti-social behaviour and youth disorder.

"Some of the drink was seized directly from under-age drinkers. But most of it we found where they had hidden it of dumped it."

The operation proved that the peak weekend trouble occurs between 7pm and 10pm.

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"After that they seemed to have got fed up having lost their drink and gone home."

"If an under-age youngster is found with alcohol we will seize it from them, obtain their personal details and try to ascertain where they are getting it from.

"Some tell us. Others take the attitude 'You've taken it from us; we're not saying anything else.'"

Off-licences and supermarkets face stiff penalties if they sell alcohol to under-age drinkers.

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But youngsters who pester adults to buy drink for them are becoming a nuisance.

Inspector Scott appealed via the Observer: "Adults need to know that there is an 80 on-the-spot fine for buying alcohol for anyone under age. The top whack could be a fine of 5,000.

"We would ask that if any adults get approached by children to buy alcohol from them can they phone the police immediately and let us know."

Commenting on the amount of alcohol seized, the Inspector said: "I think it was a lot worse than we had thought.

"I didn't know the problem was as bad.

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"But it just shows that if you put enough officers on the street at the key time you can achieve results.

"The amount of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage has definitely reduced over the last two weekends because we have been able to tackle the problem at its source.

"This has not only cut anti-social behaviour but cut the amount of litter left behind and the mindless vandalism."

*All seized alcohol has been poured down a drain at Bexhill police station.

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