Crumlin police scheme to combat under age drinking

The drink was seized from Crumin Glen, Main Street and the railway station over a period of a month.

Now the police are hoping to remove the many of the ways young people are getting alcohol with the scheme which tries to prevent the illegal sale to minors.

Inspector Colin Audley, Community Safety Inspector for D District, said the scheme was a means to safeguard and protect children as well as the wider community.

"We have been working in partnership with the Department of Health, the Policing Board and the Northern Ireland Office to combat under age drinking" Inspector Audley expalined.

"This scheme is not designed to entrap licencees and their staff, or catch them off guard. It is designed to help raise licencee and staff awareness of alcohol as an age-restricted product. Selling alcohol to under 18 year olds is an offence and such irresponsible sales impact significantly upon young people and the wider community."

He said that the scheme is also a means to reduce the the amount of alcohol illegally sold to persons under 18 years of age in licensed premises.

Any young person who is involved in test purchase of alcohol operations will be participating voluntarily but must have written consent from their parent, guardian or carer.

Anyone wishing to take part in the test purchasing of alcohol scheme or their parent, guardian or carer can download an application form from the PSNI website www.psni.police.uk You must be at least 15 years of age. However, if selected you may only be used in test purchase operations between the age of 16 & 16.