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THE Steenberg Police have warned local pub and club owners to tighten up access control at their establishments after noting a marked increase in the number of underage patrons at drin?king spots.

Inspector Naomi Brooks, communication officer at Steenberg Police Station, says that following a number of unsche?duled visits to pubs and sports bars in Retreat Road, especially at weekends, far too many teenagers have been found on the premises.

"In the past, our focus has fallen mainly on scheduling special observation operations at shebeens operating without li?quor licences in the area.

"Now we have come to realise what a big problem underage teenagers frequen?ting licensed drinking spots is fast becoming here in Retreat," she said.

"We have about seven outlets operating in Retreat that are licensed to sell alcohol on premises. Some of these places are allowing young people under the age of 18 to consume alcohol, which is illegal."

Brooks said that even those parents who take their young children along to facilities where alcohol is sold and served, can be arrested under the terms of the South African Liquor Act.

"The managers responsible for the operation of these places must be stricter with regards to who they allow inside. By law, everyone who enters must have an identity document to prove that they are over the legal age permitted to buy and consume alcohol," Brooks said.

Brooks emphasised that bar owners should "not act surprised" when police arrive at their premises asking to check up in future. "If we find suspected minors without IDs on the premises, owners must accept the prospect of being heavily fined and having those patrons removed," she said.

Vincent Leibrandt, manager of Club Negressco in Retreat Road, said the club, which also doubles as a restaurant, had been searched by police "from time to time."

Leibrandt in part blamed the presence of drug merchants operating in Retreat Road at night throughout the week for the influx of underage teens wanting to party at clubs in the area.

"I can say that there is a problem with underage children trying to get into clubs and pubs in Retreat Road.

"I cannot speak for other places but at Negressco we have security guards who insist on seeing IDs before allowing anyone in. People are also searched, because in the past we have found patrons both young and old trying to enter our place with drugs," said Leibrandt.

Edward Eybers,chairperson of the Retreat Ratepayers' and Residents' Association and grandfather of two teenage boys, said he is in full support of police monitoring underage patrons frequenting licensed premises.

"It is clear that there is a lack of control. Pa?rents and the owners of our local bars should both be blamed for allowing this sort of thing to happen. While many of our parents are working and cannot always monitor their children's every move, they still need to be aware of their children's activities, especially at night."

Eybers supported the idea that club ow?ners be heavily fined if they are found to be allowing children into their establishments.

"At the end of the day parents must be vigilant.

"Although it is not possible for everyone to escort their children to and from the pla?ces they frequent, parents must know where their children are," said Eybers.

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