Police officers patrolled parks and public spaces looking for minors with alcoholic drinks, which they then took away from them.
By HAGAY HACOHENUpdated: AUGUST 25, 2017 10:46Israeli police prevents under-age drinking (photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Israeli police, working with the Israeli Anti-Drug Authority and the Ma'ale Adumim municipal government, embarked on a special night patrol on Thursday to prevent under-age drinking in the West Bank city. The police activity was designed to improve relations between the police and the local community. The officers explained to teenagers the dangers of drinking, confiscated their drinks and emptied them, but not before providing them with free bottles of various alcohol-free soft-beverages.The bottles provided by the cops contained stickers with information on what to do in case of alcohol-induced poisoning and the dangers of over-drinking. Israeli teenagers often spend summer nights in parks and public squares while consuming alcoholic drinks that may have been acquired illegally, as the drinking age in Israel is 18 years of age.Drinking is also perceived as a cheap and easy social activity for teenagers who don't yet drive and may reside in towns lacking in other venues such as movie theaters or shopping malls. As a consequence of drinking, teenagers have been reported to engage in loud and noisy activities, get into fights or vandalize property.
