ADULTS who help supply underage drinkers with alcohol are being urged to think about their actions.
Police in Gloucester say grown-ups purchasing booze for teenagers is their biggest problem when it comes to cutting the crime.
A campaign has been launched today to try and reduce under-18s drinking across the county by educating shop and pub workers.
Inspector Richard Burge welcomed it as he said more education is needed to convince adults about the harm they are doing.
However he said many traders here were already well informed.
"We run a lot of test purchase operations here, about two a month and it's rare we catch shops selling to underage people," he said.
"The bigger problem for us is third party buying when an adult will go into a shop and buy alcohol for a child.
"It's really difficult to stop that, for us and for the shops.
"We do hand out £80 fines to adults that are caught doing it though."
Manager of King Convenience store in Tredworth Road Sabbir Fedoo agreed the problem was difficult to stamp out.
He said: "I know all the kids around here and we don't sell alcohol to anyone underage.
"But people don't care about buying it for them.
"Even parents encourage their kids to drink."
Research shows that the admission of young people aged 18 years and under to hospitals in the county is above the national average.
In 2010 78 were treated at A&Es in Gloucestershire.
There are also indications that sales to that age group are on the increase.
The campaign by the constabulary and Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl will see shop and pub workers invited to attend free workshops teaching them why they should not sell alcohol to anyone under 18.
They will be part-funded by Mr Surl, who said: "Underage drinking is not only against the law it also has an impact on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
"This is an attempt to tackle the problem by raising the bar for staff training."
