Retailers warned as police seize 44,000 pints from underage drinkers

The police seized more than 44,000 pints of alcoholic drinks from underage drinkers as part of a clampdown during the February school half term.

The campaign, which was funded by the Home Office, cost £760,000 and took place in 165 separate areas across England and Wales. It was part of an ongoing programme to tackle under-age drinking.

A quarter of those who were found to possess alcohol were less than 15 years old. Of the 30% who admitted where they had got the alcohol, half said they had bought it from a shop.

The Government says it will soon publish a Youth Alcohol Action Plan to reduce drinking in public and the problem of sales of alcohol to those under 18.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "We are working across Government to combine tough enforcement of the law with effective alcohol education for children and parents and to help young people find alternative things to do.

"Police officers tell me that these campaigns yield valuable intelligence about where children get their alcohol. With this in mind, I want to send a strong signal once again to those persistent few irresponsible retailers that deliberately sell to under-18s. They will be caught and they will be punished."