STREET drinking is a "way of life" for many young teenagers who terrorise neighbourhoods in York.

The astonishing scale of the drinking culture among youngsters in the city is revealed today in an Evening Press investigation.

In two hours we saw more than 100 young people loitering in public places - and underage drinkers with bags of booze were among almost every group.

Police seized and poured away dozens of litres of beer, cider and alcopops.

Police Constable Graham Cooper said: "It's a way of life for these kids. We find it's not just some of them that are on the streets with drink - it's the vast majority."

Senior police officers in York have now teamed up with all 11 secondary schools in the city to try to bring the message home to parents that under-age boozing will not be tolerated.

On patrol with North Yorkshire Police, we saw:

Six teenagers at a litter-strewn recreation ground behind Salisbury Terrace with NINE litres of cider and 12 cans of strong lager. With them was a nine-year-old boy.

Two 15-year-olds drinking cider and lager beside the River Ouse, both of whom have been arrested by the police before for disorder. They said they drink on the streets every night.

An 18-year-old man, recently sentenced to an antisocial behaviour order, suspected of buying drink for a gang including under-age youths in Bishopthorpe Road.

Officers were met with sarcastic abuse and rowdy behaviour when they stopped to speak to youths in South Bank, Clifton, New Earswick and Haxby.

They found children as young as 12 drinking alcohol which they said came from home, they had bought themselves or which had been purchased for them by older friends or "helpful" strangers.

One 15-year-old at Salisbury Terrace said: "If they didn't want antisocial behaviour they would not have built this park in the first place - no one ever comes out and complains."

PC Chris Ellison said underage street drinking was a problem that had spiralled. She said: "Today it's virtually all youth-related crime that we deal with. The attitude is very different, they question everything, they will lie to you. They have no respect for authority."

Police were preparing for a crackdown on drunken yobs today, aimed at halting alcohol-fuelled violence. Officers will target irresponsible drinkers and licensed premises which encourage binge-drinking and other loutish behaviour under the national campaign, which begins on July 8.

Updated: 10:36 Monday, July 05, 2004