TEENS and parents in Sidmouth have been praised by police after a dramatic turnaround in under-age drinking incidents.

TEENS and parents in Sidmouth have been praised by police after a dramatic turnaround in under-age drinking incidents.

Sergeant Andy Turner has thanked youngsters and those responsible for them just weeks after branding a massive Carnival booze haul as ‘disgusting’ and warning: “kids are drinking themselves to death.”

The Herald reported this month how more than 140 litres of alcohol was seized from drunk children as young as 13 on Sidmouth Carnival night.

PCSOs and a team of five Special Constables have been tasked with tackling under-age drinking on evenings and weekends- with pleasing results.

“Since the story in the Herald we’ve noticed a dramatic decrease in the amount of alcohol out on the streets,” said PS Turner.

“I thank parents and those responsible for young people, and children who have taken responsibility for their own actions.

“Those left are the ones we’re going to target.”

Booze was poured away and unruly youngsters warned they face being slapped with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) after a Special responded to reports a gang was smashing beer bottles in Connaught Gardens on Saturday night.

“Enquiries are ongoing,” said PS Turner, “we are speaking with those involved and their parents.”

He added offenders could be prosecuted for individual criminal offences or find themselves landed in a process which could see them handed an ASBO.

Social Services will be informed if a child has been found abusing alcohol on more than one occasion, warned PS Turner.

He added the neighbourhood policing team’s public offensive on under age drinkers after Sidmouth Carnival paid dividends by more than 90per cent just a week later, when just four litres of alcohol were seized at Newton Poppleford’s night of fun.

PS Turner said youngsters caught brazenly walking around with alcohol during Sidmouth Carnival were clocked behaving perfectly at the Newton Poppleford spectacular days later.