A POLICE crackdown on under-age drinking and irresponsible licensees appears to be getting results.

The National Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (NAMEC) and a local police operation to combat youth nuisance are running simultaneously in South Lakeland and Furness.

Although precise figures are not available, police officers say they are confiscating less alcohol from binge drinking teenagers and alcohol-related incidents are down.

Inspector Ian Carruthers of Kendal police said there were no incidents at all on Sunday.

In comparison, he said that last year, when the operations were not running, the police dealt with roughly five incidents involving under-age drinkers on a normal Sunday.

Insp Carruthers added people's lives would be improved by any decrease in incidents: "If we are not getting incidents reported and the patrols are not coming across anything, that's got to be good for everybody."

But he said the police would not be relaxing their vigilance: "One weekend doesn't make a whole summer."

On average, police across South Cumbria are now visiting 60 pubs, clubs and bars and 20 off licences every weekend and will continue to do so until August 30.

Apart from cracking down on under-age binge drinking in public spaces, the NAMEC is designed to make licensees more aware of the Licensing Act 2003 due to come into force next year.

With it will come a more continental' and relaxed approach to licensing, with the possibility of 24-hour opening, and the Government is keen to encourage licensees to be more conscientious about under-age and excessive drinking.