A MOTHER, whose 15-year-old son was caught drinking illegally in Cowes, argued with police, asking if they had nothing better to do with their time than arrest teenagers who had alcohol, one of the town’s senior police officers has revealed.
Speaking to a meeting of Cowes Town Council, Sgt Julie Cocks told members the mother had been contacted by police when her son was caught with 22 units of alcohol — the recommended safe drinking limit for an adult male is just 20 units, she said.
Sgt Cocks told the meeting: "She said it was dreadful. Had we nothing better to do?
"My view is it is dreadful that her 15-year-old son had 22 units of drink in his possession, when you consider the safe recommended weekly limit is 20.
"I am not OK with that. Kids are not drinking just one bottle of beer, they are drinking 15 bottles of beer."
She added the same evening the woman’s son had been arrested, police had to call an ambulance to deal with a 15-year-old youth who was comatose in the town. He had also since been arrested for drinking.
Last month, the County Press revealed how police had launched a crackdown on under-age drinking in the town with a 'three strikes and you are out’ policy.
Any youngster caught by police with drink three times will be arrested and charged for the offence.
Sgt Cocks told members of the town council that since the launch of the crackdown, seven youths were on two 'strikes’ and three youths had been arrested for drinking.
She said: "It is getting through to people that we are taking this seriously."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk