Operation Snapper (Support No Alcohol in Public Places through Partnership, Enforcement and Regulation) aims to continue the success of Operation Marsham which tackled underage drinking during the Easter Break.

During the summer holiday period from July to September, a dedicated team of officers will be targeting hot-spot areas to confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers.

Chief Inspector Simon Walls, Area Commander for Antrim, believes underage drinking regularly leads to antisocial behaviour.

"Underage drinking often leads to criminal damage, assault and fear of crime for residents in areas subject to this kind of anti-social behaviour," Chief Insp. Walls said.

He added: "We want to send a message to those juveniles who drink in public areas and exhibit anti-social behaviour that this will not be tolerated.

"I know, however, that the issues surrounding underage drinking are not just confined to the school holiday period. This is why we are also encouraging young people to look out for a series of alcohol free activities, further details of which should be in local media."

Chief Insp. Walls added that once the operation draws to a close, the police will continue to work with the local community and schools to increase awareness of this issue and tackle the associated anti-social behaviour that it causes.

Pam Lewis, DUP councillor and chairperson of Antrim DPP, believes this operation can build on the good work done by Operation Marsham.

She said: "Operation Marsham was a great success and we expect Operation Snapper to have the same positive result on the problem."

"At DPP and public meetings there are always complaints about anti-social behaviour."

She added: "It is clear this behaviour is a direct result of the youths drinking alcohol. When groups of youths get together there does not seem to be any problems until drink becomes involved."

Operation Marsham piloted the use of Rapid Alcohol Screening test, which for the first time, allowed officers to confiscate alcohol hidden within soft drink containers.

Cllr. Lewis praised the introduction of this test, and said: "Using the strips, police are able to test bottles that appear to be only soft drinks and this way they can confiscate much more alcohol than before.

"It is an inexpensive method of testing these drinks and has been a great addition to the operation."

During the Easter break, 736 items of alcohol were confiscated and cautioned 54 youths across Antrim, Newtownabbey and Lisburn.

"I saw some but not all of the alcohol confiscated during operation Marsham, even that was a horrendous amount," Cllr. Lewis said.

She added: "It was very noticeable that a lot of the alcohol confiscated was types you would not associate with youths.