Two Hamilton 11-year-olds caught bevvied on buckfast

Nov 10 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

POLICE this week sounded a warning after two boys aged 11 and one of 12 years bevvied Buckfast and caused trouble.

It happened on the night of October 28 when the under-agers enticed a youth to buy them a bottle of Buckfast each from an Eddlewood off-sales.

Police say the 11-year-olds, from Eddlewood, and the 12-year-old, from Hillhouse, downed the drink then started causing a disturbance in Newlands Drive, Hamilton, shortly before 9pm.

The three are said to have become “highly abusive” to police.

They were taken to Hamilton Police Station where their parents were sent for.

They were later allowed home with their parents.

Following inquiries, police charged a 19-year-old youth with buying drink for the three under-agers.

He will be the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal.

A report on the conduct of the three boys will be submitted to the Children’s Panel.

Police later visited the boys’ school to discuss the incident with them and their guidance teachers.

Hamilton-based Chief Inspector David Walker was concerned by the incident and especially at the age of the three boys involved in the incident.

He believes there is a strong link between alcohol consumption among teenagers and levels of street disturbance.

“We believe that if we can influence the amount of alcohol being consumed by young people early on any particular evening then you don’t have violence and disorder later that night,” he added.

“We are going to be actively targeting people who go into off-sales and buy alcohol for individuals they know are under-age.

“Two 11-year-olds and a 12-year-old should not be getting alcohol bought for them.

“However, it has happened, there has been a disturbance and a lot of police and court time is going to be taken up dealing with this matter.”