'Operation Snapper' will start today (Friday) and will target youngsters drinking in public areas.

It will run right throught the school holidays until September and a dedicated team of officers will be targeting hot-spot areas to confiscate alcohol from the underage tipplers.
All the alcohol they seize will be destroyed.

Police have warned the underage drinkers that if they're caught they may be liable for prosecution. Adults detected purchasing or supplying alcohol for use by juveniles can also expect to end up in court.
Lisburn police commander Chief Inspector David Moore said underage drinking was 'a sgnificant issue to the local community'.

"Underage drinking often leads to criminal damage, assault and fear of crime for residents in areas subject to this kind of anti-social behaviour" he said.

"We want to send a message to those juveniles who drink in public areas and exhibit anti-social behaviour that this will not be tolerated.
"I know, however, that the issues surrounding underage drinking are not just confined to the school holiday period. This is why we are also encouraging young people to look out for a series of alcohol free activities, further details of which should be in local media.

"After this operation ends, we will continue to work with the local community and schools to increase awareness of this issue and tackle the associated anti-social behaviour that it causes."

During the operation police will be encouraging young people to take place in diversionary activities organised by the local NIO Community Safety Partnerships (CSP) and District Policing Partnership (DPP).

Operation SNAPPER is an acronym for Support No Alcohol in Public Places through Partnership, Enforcement and Regulation.

The operation follows a DPP Survey in 2006 which found that 42% of the population believe underage drinking is the biggest problem to policing in their area.