Pubs in Southend have been besieged by under-age drinkers during the festive period, landlords revealed.
Managers at both O'Neill's Irish Bar and The Last Post in the town centre said their doormen had been busier than ever turning youngsters away.
The worrying revelation comes in the wake of Government warnings over growing alcohol abuse amongst youngsters.
Chief medical officer Liam Donaldson's annual report suggested that 18-24 year olds, and women in particular, are consuming more alcohol than ever before.
Cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, heart problems, dementia and blindness are just a few of the possible effects of alcohol abuse.
Bryan Bampton is general manager of O'Neill's Irish Bar in the High Street as well as being chairman of the town's Pubwatch group. Pubwatch enables bar managers to liaise and work against problems such as under-age drinking.
Mr Bampton said: "A lot more youngsters seem to be working these days and they were all coming in on company Christmas parties.
"We are very strict on under-age drinking at O'Neill's and had to turn away more kids than ever before."
Published Friday December 28, 2001
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