Sidmouth police crackdown on underage drinking
Sidmouth town PCSO's Jay Bowden and Phil Thomas with the haul of alcoholic drinks seized from under eighteens on the night of the Sidmouth carnival. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref shs 0618-40-13SH To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on Photo Orders. - Credit: Archant
Police are appealing to parents to be vigilant about underage drinking after claiming a stash of booze from teenagers at Sidmouth Carnival.
CONCERN for drunken teens as young as 14 has seen police urge parents to be vigilant about underage drinking – after this haul of booze was seized from youngsters on carnival night.
Sergeant Andy Squires said his officers spent much of their time on Saturday dealing with sozzled children when resources could have been used elsewhere.
One 17-year-old girl was found alone and ‘comatose’ on a cocktail of alcohol and legal highs.
New dispersal orders were used three times on Saturday night, and arrests were made when the drinkers refused to leave the area.
“Underage drinking is causing problems at weekends,” said Sgt Squires.
“We need to tighten up on them.”
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He added: “Kids are managing to obtain alcohol, either from home, being allowed to purchase it from off licences, or getting someone to buy it for them.
“A 17-year-old girl was comatose on legal highs and alcohol – she was completely vulnerable, had been abandoned by her friends and couldn’t communicate with us.”
He said parents should be aware of youngsters disguising alcohol in soft drink bottles.
And he warned that police officers will be carrying out more tests to check for substances such as vodka, which are harder to detect.
