163 CHILDREN CAUGHT IN DRINKING CURB

More than 100 children, many of them as young as 14, were found drunk on
the street during a weekend blitz on unscrupulous licensees who sell to
under-age drinkers, writes Jim MacBeth.

Strathclyde Police visited 1,835 licensed premises and charged ten
landlords. They detained 163 youngsters, one of whom, a boy of 15, was so
intoxicated he had to be taken to hospital for his safety.

Six teenagers were held for buying alcohol for younger children. The number
of suspected under-age drinkers was 124 boys and 39 girls.

In the crackdown, police recovered 16 offensive weapons, including blades,
chains, a baseball bat and a hunting knife.

Chief Superintendent Sandy Forrest, the officer in charge of the operation
under the Spotlight Initiative, said: "I think the results achieved give
suitable justification for coordinated operations of this type to take
place."

Throughout Strathclyde, children as young as 14 were found in possession of
alcohol, ranging from wine and beer to strong cider and alcopops.

The 15-year-old, from Oban, who was taken to hospital, was detained overnight.

Reports will go to the procurator-fiscal.