By David Clegg

AN 11-YEAR-OLD was among 136 Dundee youngsters who had alcohol confiscated from them by police officers last year.

The alarming incident emerged as a Courier investigation into teenage drinking revealed for the first time the full scale of the problem in the city.

Police also caught two 12-year-olds, 17 13-year-olds, 41 14-year–olds, 65 15-year-olds and 10 16-year-olds drinking on Dundee streets during last year.

In the haul of booze confiscated from the youths were 27 bottles of vodka, 305 litres of cider, 277 beers and 83 alcopops.

Although none of the incidents led to criminal proceedings, the police did issue 83 “beacon letters” and took some drinkers home to their parents.

But the shock figures, which were released in response to a Freedom of Information request, have been described as representing just the “tip of the iceberg” by a Dundee alcohol campaigner.

Director of the Tayside Council on Alcohol, Frankie Claridge, said the police were “working hard” to stamp out the problem but unless there was a change of culture the steps were doomed to failure.

“What these figures reflect is the true extent of the damage that is being done on the streets of Dundee and the really worrying part is it is just the tip of the iceberg.

“A lot of young people do most of their drinking at home and there is very little the police can do about that.

“But the culture needs to change. Children take their drinking habits from adults and I’m afraid we don’t make very good role models.”

A spokesperson for Tayside Police said, “We need parents to take responsibility for their children and all adults to fully recognise that they are adding fuel to the fire by providing children with alcohol.”

Anyone with information on under-age drinking, youths causing annoyance or anti-social behaviour is asked to call Tayside Police on Dundee 223200.