Crackdown on underage drinking

The problem of underage drinking is being tackled

Eight off-licences in north Belfast sold alcohol to children as young as 13 in front of under-cover police officers, the PSNI has said.

Four teenagers aged between 13 and 16, accompanied by plain-clothes officers, visited a total of 14 premises.

A 13-year-old girl was able to buy alcohol in two out of the four premises she entered.

The illegal sales were discovered during a police crackdown on underage drinking and anti-social behaviour in the north of the city.

It was the first time in Northern Ireland that police had carried out test purchases of alcohol.

Operation Alcopop ran over two weekends and involved police, Belfast City Council and youth workers.

As part of the operation, police made test purchases of alcohol on 4 June.

Operation Alcopop findings Two off-licences sold alcohol to a 13-year-old Two sold alcohol to a 15-year-old Four sold alcohol to a 16-year-old

Chief Inspector Colin Taylor said that the operations demonstrated police commitment to tackling the problems of anti-social behaviour.

"A major reason for running this operation is that we recognise that there has been a large increase in the number of people reporting incidents of youths causing annoyance, many of which involve alcohol," he said.

"Tackling these problems is one of the main priorities set out by the Belfast District Policing Board plan in response to concerns from the local community."

Police also made 70 seizures of alcohol from young people in the area during the operation and two people were arrested.

Twenty-three youths were reported to the Youth Diversion Officer, 22 youths to Belfast City Council and youth workers spoke to 20 young people.

Mr Taylor stressed the problem of nuisance youths was a "major drain on police resources".

"We will continue to use a wide range of methods and work with partner agencies to tackle the problems in an innovative and holistic manner," he said.

"Everyone should have the basic human right to live quietly and peacefully."

A statement issued by the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade said it was totally opposed to underage drinking.

"We have been pressing the government to introduce a compulsory proof of age card for all young people to make it easier for licensees to know what age young people are," it said.

Since September 2003, more than 80 operations have been carried out in the area, aimed at addressing the problem.

Off-licences visited

Gavin Quinn from Opportunity Youth, a charity organisation that deals with youths who have alcohol, substance and drug problems, said it had provided a "complimentary support service" to young people during the operation.

"This multi-discipline approach ensured the appropriate advice, support and health and safety tips were given to young people."

James Cunningham of Belfast City Council said it welcomed the initiative to tackle the problems of underage and on-street drinking.

Before a decision was taken to carry out the test purchase operation, police officers visited every off-licence in north Belfast to highlight the problem of underage drinking.

Letters were sent to all the major off-licence chains asking them to detail the measures and instructions that they had in place to prevent sales to under 18s and any ideas they felt could help.