PROBLEMS withunder-age drinking is not a new phenomenon in the villages, towns and cities of this nation.

Add to that the binge-drinking craze that appears to be taking the country by storm and you have the recipe for disaster.

Now, former Faithful City Mayor and well-known campaigner David Clark has entered the fray.

As chairman of the city committee which will take full responsibility for granting, monitoring and, presumably, refusing alcohol and entertainment licences next year, his is a voice that should be listened to closely.

He believes that police presence in the city at key times is not enough to control the situation.

Citing Bristol as an exemplary example, he says their initiative this year is worth noting.

In an attempt to control the establishments where binge and under-age drinking had been noted, the authority shut them down for either 24 or 48 hours by withdrawing their licence.

This, apparently had a remarkable and swift effect.

The reaction they got was '"amazing" says councillor Clark.

But it needed the systems in place to make it work - and that meant regular police patrols and visits to the pubs and clubs in the city.

That means bobbies on the beat - checking and monitoring.

If there are not enough to do the job then the problem will obviously escalate as we veer towards a 24-hour drinking "economy".

An urgent meeting is needed to clarify these issues.

What this city does not need is a situation that encourages even more loutish behaviour.

We have gort enough of that already.