THE scale of Fermanagh’s underage drinking culture was laid bare by local PSNI Inspector who stated that teenagers as young as 13 have been found ‘loaded up with drink’ on booze buses set for underage discos.
Police Inspector Roy Robinson revealed the extent of the problem where teens aged 13 to 17 have been escorted from buses on their way to popular underage discos in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, because there are drunk or have been found with alcohol in their possession.
The PSNI efforts to curb irresponsible drinking is made difficult by the lack of legislation surrounding alcohol on privately hired buses. Currently, there are no warnings or penalties given to bus companies who allow underage teenagers to drink alcohol in their vehicle.
Mr Robinson described how some ‘sneaky’ bus drivers do not arrange a pick-up spot with the teenagers until minutes before they leave as a way to avoid police detection.
However, buses carrying underage drinkers have been stopped in Enniskillen, Irvinestown and Newtownbutler on journeys which can often last up to two hours.
“This is a problem in Fermanagh and right across Northern Ireland,” he said.
“Our children are loading themselves up with alcohol, which they are getting from older people, and travelling to these places while getting drunk.
“There are 13 to 17-year-olds who have been found drunk on these buses. If we suspect there is alcohol on the bus we search the vehicle and if any is found we would call their parents and tell them what has happened. There might be youth justice officers there who would ask them where they got it but that’s difficult because, in most cases, they tell you a lie.
“I don’t know if parents are aware of what is really going on. You have to see the state some of the young teenagers get themselves in to.”
In most cases nightclub door staff breathalyse youngsters suspected of taking alcohol and refuse entry to those who test positive. But, Mr Robinson explained that these drunk teens are often left wandering around unfamiliar street for hours until closing time.
He continued: “Bus drivers won’t tell them until the last minute where they are being picked up so they can avoid police detection, they are quite sneaky that way. It takes a long time to get to Cookstown so by the time they get there, the young people are very drunk.
“If they arrive drunk, they are not allowed in and they are left wandering around drunk for hours and that’s the real danger. Parents need to know who is taking their children to these places and if there are responsible enough not to allow drink on the bus.
“It’s a serious and ongoing problem but one of the most serious issues and biggest difficulties is that there is no legislation to say that they cannot have drink on the buses.
“The PSV department within the Roads Service should remove their licence and that’s what we would like to see. The Roads Service Enforcement Section are the ones that should be enforcing this and I would like to see bus drivers or companies being issued with a warning or having their licence removed.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
