HEALTH campaigners have voiced alarm as new figures reveal cases of underage drinking in Northern Ireland have jumped by more than a fifth in a year.
Police found more than 350 children drinking, possessing or buying alcohol over the past two years.
Last year alone more than 170 children and young people were caught consuming alcohol, according to police records obtained by The Irish News.
The figure is an increase of more than 20 per cent on the 141 discovered the previous year.
A further 25 children were found by police in possession of alcohol in the past two years while 19 were caught purchasing drink.
Children between the ages of 12 and 17 are regularly being found drinking alcohol by police patrolling the streets, with experts fearing recorded cases are just the tip of the iceberg.
In one case a five-year-old girl was found consuming alcohol in a policing district in Co Down.
Officers also discovered a nine-year-old boy in possession of alcohol in the policing area that includes Lisburn and Antrim, according to PSNI records from the past two years.
The detailed statistics also reveal the north's main hotspots for under-age drinking.
Lisburn, Down and Ards are the identified as among the main problem areas, with dozens of children found drinking alcohol.
Despite being densely populated, police in Belfast and Derry recorded relatively few cases.
The figures come amid heightened concerns over underage drinking after a major incident was declared in February outside the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.
More than 100 young people were treated for the effects of alcohol and drugs outside the complex where Dutch DJ Hardwell was performing. Many treated were aged under 16.
Police also warned that someone could have died when dozens of young people gathered at a golf course in Strabane, Co Tyrone, for an outdoor St Patrick's Day party organised on social media.
Three teens were taken to hospital to be treated for the effects of alcohol, with one found unconscious just feet from a river.
Campaigners last night called for stricter regulation of alcohol promotions, while police urged parents to be aware of what their children are doing.
Suzanne Costello, chief executive of Alcohol Action Ireland, said children are growing up in a society "saturated with alcohol".
"While an increase of more than 20 per cent in reports of underage drinking is certainly worrying, the reality is that reports to the PSNI only represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of minors drinking alcohol in Northern Ireland," she said.
"However, despite this alcohol use continues to move further into childhood and, worryingly, there is a consistent trend for drunkenness among young Irish people - a trend that sets them apart from the majority of their European counterparts.
"There is nothing to be gained by pointing the finger at young people.
"We need to acknowledge they generally model their drinking behaviour on the attitudes and actions of the adults they see around them as well as being influenced by alcohol marketing and their friends.
"When it comes to drinking, young people are, in many ways, a product of their environment and we have created an environment for them that is saturated with alcohol."
The details of underage drinking between 2011-12 and 2012-13 were uncovered by The Irish News through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Most children caught drinking alcohol by police were aged 15 or 16.
The age of criminal responsibility is 10 years of age and therefore children under 10 legally cannot commit an offence.
However, the PSNI said it records information below this age in order to monitor "risk behaviour" and to "make referrals to partner agencies for support services for the child or their family where appropriate".
A spokesman said police "will continue to seize alcohol from underage drinkers where they can".
"Police would always warn young people about the dangers of under-age drinking," he said.
"We are determined to educate young people about the dangers of underage drinking. Not only are young people who drink alcohol jeopardising their health but they are also taking chances with their future.
"Drinking under the age of 18 is breaking the law and even a low-level youth diversion intervention can diminish education opportunities as many colleges and universities ask for this information on their application forms.
"It is essential that parents speak to their children and make them aware of this and other consequences of getting caught up in underage drinking.
"Parents should also ensure they know where their children are and what they are doing and advise them of the danger of accepting alcohol from strangers or adults who are willing to supply it.
"There is the potential for young people to become the victims of a serious assault if they have been drinking and are not able to look after themselves."
Children over 10 found consuming alcohol:
Age No of children 12 1 13 24 14 56 15 83 16 77 17 71
Underage drinking detections by police area:
Lisburn 92 Down 43 Ards 35 North Down 31 Coleraine 25 Craigavon 24 Castlereagh 23 Banbridge 16 Cookstown 15 Newry & Mourne 10 Armagh 9 Foyle 5 Fermanagh 3 Newtownabbey 3 South Belfast 3 Strabane 3 Ballymena 2 Carrickfergus 2 East Belfast 2 Limavady 2 Magherafelt 2 West Belfast 2 Ballymoney 1 Dungannon/S Tyrone 1 Larne 1 North Belfast 1
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