A POLICE chief is inviting parents to visit Bournemouth town centre at weekends to witness at first-hand the devastating effects of under-age drinking and alcohol abuse.

"If they know or suspect their children are coming into the town centre on a Friday or Saturday night they should come and have a look for themselves, try finding them and seeing what they are up to," said Inspector Neil MacBean.

"Hopefully their minds will be put at rest and they will be able to go on and enjoy attractions like the fireworks displays, in the knowledge that their kids are safe."

Inspector MacBean, who recently voiced fears for the safety of some teenage girls who frequent the town centre at night, added: "Because it's easier and cheaper to get hold of alcohol these days and kids look more mature than they used to, some parents seem to be ignoring their children's drinking habits.

"Like many other areas, under-age drinking is a problem in Bournemouth and perhaps parents are not as stringent as they should be."

His sentiments are shared by a Bournemouth council chief who warned that parents who turn a blind eye to under-age drinking are endangering their children's health and safety as well as helping fuel antisocial behaviour.

Trading standards manager Paul Walker appealed to parents to take more responsibility for their offspring after shocking new research revealed how youngsters can still easily obtain cigarettes, drugs and alcohol.

Despite numerous government targets to tackle under-age drinking and smoking, as well as campaigns warning of the dangers of drugs, a British Medical Journal study has shown that children have little trouble getting their hands on alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.

Friends or family who give youngsters alcohol have come under fire along with shopkeepers, pub and club owners who flout licensing laws.

Mr Walker said: "The vast majority of parents are responsible but some condone under-age drinking, which makes local residents' lives much harder.

"Parents need to be educated on the dangers of alcohol and cigarettes as much as children themselves.

"It's a vicious circle. By turning a blind eye to such behaviour, parents are unwittingly putting their children's health at risk and contributing to knock-on problems such as vandalism and antisocial behaviour. Protecting children from harm is the cornerstone of new licensing legislation.

"There is evidence to show that early consumption of alcohol has a detrimental effect on youngsters' development."

Joint police and trading standards operations to clamp down on law-breaking licensees have reduced the number of businesses flouting licensing laws.

"At one stage nearly half of Bournemouth retailers were detected selling alcohol to youngsters," added Mr Walker. "That figure has dropped to about 20 per cent.

"It's still too high and we are determined to cut it further."

First published: August 13, 2005