Crackdown on binge drinking 'worked'

Fri Oct 16 2009 16:42:12

Thousands of teenagers hoping to spend the summer binge-drinking had alcohol confiscated from them as part of a Government crackdown.

Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo has announced that more than 5,000 litres of drink was taken away from youngsters between July and September.

The £1.4 million campaign also saw more than 3,000 actions taken against children consuming alcohol, or attempting to, in public.

In June, Children's Secretary Ed Balls announced that 69 youth crime priority areas would be given a share of extra cash to help them clamp down specifically on teenage binge-drinking in the summer months.

The funding allowed the towns and cities to confiscate alcohol, break up groups of young people who are getting drunk and get them to sign contracts promising to behave.

Each area was also required to work with families to address the underlying reasons for children's behaviour.

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