BOTTLES and cans of all kinds of drink were confiscated from West Devon youngsters in a crackdown by police this month.
Officers targeted known haunts of under-age drinkers, including Tavistock's Meadows and Simmon's Park in Okehampton, in a bid to reduce 'anti-social behaviour' in the run up to the Millennium.
Operation Jeopardy was the fifth of its kind and was aimed at making the areas safer and more pleasant not only for residents, but the youngsters themselves.
West Devon's youth affairs officer, PC Keith Bowden, said alcohol was involved in 60 per cent of the cases where youngsters came to the police's attention.
He emphasised that the main thrust of his work was in educating young people about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
'Education is tackling the roots of the problem — but we know under-age drinking goes on so it's important we continue these operations to help with the reduction of the problem,' he said.
'We are aware people enjoy alcohol and we don't want to stop it, but young people need to be aware of the dangers — they are victims as well as offenders. It's everybody's responsibility, parental and community — we are not trying to prevent drinking just to educate youngsters to drink sensibly.'