ALCOHOL is piling up on the desk of a Sidmouth police constable after successful campaigns to prevent underage drinking in the town.

ALCOHOL is piling up on the desk of a Sidmouth police constable after successful campaigns to prevent underage drinking in the town.

"I am trying to collate how many litres we get between January 1 and December 31, and it is quite a lot," PC Steve Lemon told town councillors at their November meeting on Monday.

He and colleagues were congratulated for being reactive to incidents; including those involving alcohol, in the town by Councillor Chris Wale.

PC Lemon said if an adult had alcohol in a park with underage teenagers, all of it would be confiscated by police.

"It doesn't have to be open, I just have to suspect it will happen," he said.

He said issues with one off-licence had been resolved and its attitude had changed following a change of management.

Councillor John Dyson asked whether drugs or alcohol caused more problems in Sidmouth.

"Personally I feel alcohol is worse. Drugs are bad for you but more criminal damage and violence and fights on the street are drink-related."

He added: "Drugs are bad, especially as some of those people are taking them are 12 and 13.