Police seize alcohol from teenage drinkers in Whitchurch

“Good to see that illicit use of alcohol is being tackled. Alcohol is the 4th most damaging drug and we should be discouraging it's misuse, especially amongst triallists”

“I'm all for katachua's comment, one thing though, the parents provide the "controlled condition" and not some hapless drinkers who find they're now running a crèche by default.

I remember the nightmare of Newquay's child drinkers. Dropped off by their parents with several slabs of booze, they ran riot through everything and anything, some died, many were just lucky. The parents were apoplectic with rage, not with the behaviour of their little urchins, but because the police had insisted they come and take charge of their children.”

“@Polyphase

'John_Name, are you saying that if you take a teenager to a pub for a pint then they will NEVER have a drink in a park with their mates?'

No. I just want to instil in my kids a relationship with alcohol that's more about enjoying a couple of pints now and then, than getting trolleyed on White Ice all afternoon four days a week.”

“Firstly - Coppers take booze away from teenagers. Bet that's never happened before. Not News.

Secondly - John_Name, are you saying that if you take a teenager to a pub for a pint then they will NEVER have a drink in a park with their mates?”

“With the greatest respect, bristoldjsuk, I think I'm with katachua this time. I sometimes take my 16yo out for a pint, and also took my 18yo and her boyfriend out for a pint on a number of occasions when they were both still 17. I know it's against the law, but it feels very sensible and civilized - much better than them drinking vodka on some park bench somewhere.”

“@Bristoldjsuk

"The age limit has to be set somewhere doesn't it... If the 16 y/o's can drink, then the 14 y/o's will be thinking it's acceptable at an earlier age and it just continues from there...

The simple answer is to just get parents parenting properly... I was drinking at 15/16, very little amounts and in a controlled way. Being introduced to it properly, not just being handed a bottle of vodka and told to get on with it on a street corner!"

That's why I said "controlled conditions". In the past, youngsters were allowed the occasional drink on the quiet as long as they behaved themselves. Now, there's a rigorous ban, so they DO get handed a bottle of vodka and told to get on with it on a street corner.

Also, under-25's have got used to carrying ID cards. How long before everyone else has to?

I'm worried about the fact that there are no blurred edges these days. Everything that isn't strictly legal is rigidly banned. As they say - everything that isn't illegal is compulsary...”

“The age limit has to be set somewhere doesn't it... If the 16 y/o's can drink, then the 14 y/o's will be thinking it's acceptable at an earlier age and it just continues from there...

The simple answer is to just get parents parenting properly... I was drinking at 15/16, very little amounts and in a controlled way. Being introduced to it properly, not just being handed a bottle of vodka and told to get on with it on a street corner!”

“Wouldn't it make more sense for 16-year-olds to be allowed to drink beer in pubs under controlled conditions?”