POLICE have launched a surprise crackdown on underage drinkers at Casey football matches - and the alcohol outlets supplying them.
``We think the culture of where it's acceptable to go to a football game and sit there and drink alcohol all day needs to change,'' Liquor Licensing Sergeant Dave Sheppard, of Endeavour Hills police, said last week.
``There are systemic problems across Casey with youth and alcohol issues so we're trying to promote a culture of change,'' he said.
``We will go to as many matches as we can throughout Casey over the football season and will switch to cricket matches when they start.''
Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren and Cranbourne police stations are contributing personnel for the joint operation which began last Saturday week.
In the first foray, Sergeant Sheppard and his Narre Warren counterpart Sergeant Geoff Rumble donned plainclothes to survey the crowd at the Narre Warren v Cranbourne match in Narre Warren North. They issued stiff fines to:
- A 17-year-old Cranbourne youth who received two $57 penalty notices for possess and consume liquor underage
- A 16-year-old Cranbourne girl for possess and consume liquor underage and supply false particulars. She was handed one $170 and two $57 penalty notices and
- An 18-year-old Cranbourne youth who was fined $681 after being captured on video footage at a local bottle shop buying alcohol for an underage person.
Sergeant Sheppard said football clubs generally operated responsibly within the parametres of their liquor licences.
``But there are always individuals they can't control, such as underage drinkers sitting in cars.''
Local packaged liquor outlets which sell alcohol to underage persons are also being targetted.
''We are seeing a lot of underage drinkers in licensed premises in Casey. We will be observing and detecting offences at pubs and bottle shops and those which breach the Liquor Control Reform Act face the prospect of substantial fines. Recidivist offenders will be taken to VCAT for prosecution where the maximum penalty is losing their licence.''
Sergeant Sheppard said the operation would continue until the message sank in.
``We want to do ourselves out of a job. The more offenders were get, the more disappointed we are.''
Last Modified on 11/06/2009 14:20