By Conor Sharkey

STRABANE'S 'blue bag brigade' should consider the consequences before drinking in public this summer, the local authority has warned this week.

The almost tropical weather of recent weeks has seen revellers flocking to the banks of the Mourne and other locations, armed with their bags of beer and alcopops.

And while no doubt those involved are enjoying the long Friday, Saturday or Sunday evenings lounging in the sun, the past time is turning into a major headache for the council's cleansing department.

For many local street cleaners, the first hours of Monday mornings have become a routine of picking up blue bags, beer cans and empty alcopop bottles.

And while the Council's hands are largely tied with regards to stopping the increasingly popular public drinking trend, they did warn this week that it does remain an offence and can lead to a criminal record.

Head of Technical Services Malcolm Scott explained: "We are having problems with the blue bag brigade, particularly along the river and over at the Meadows football pitches.

"But all we can really do is look at designating the areas as illegal for drinking in public. And even then, all we are doing is moving those involved around. We move them from one place and they just congregate somewhere else. It really has become a headache for us, particularly with the recent spell of good weather," Mr Scott explained.

Looking to the financial implications the public practice holds for his department, Mr Scott added, "We are constantly cleaning up after these people, so it takes time and money. Our cleansing budget for the year is £600,000 and cleaning up blue bags and bottles is starting to have big impact on us. The plastic bags are bad enough, but the real problems for us start when glass bottles are smashed on the football pitches. That is where the big problems are starting to arise from.

"But it is something we have to deal and it is proving a very difficult problem to solve at the present time," Mr Scott said.

Since Strabane Council began administering official cautions to those drinking in public back in 2000, close to 200 people have appeared before the local Magistrate.

And according to the council's Licensing officer David Turner, that figure will continue to increase as long as people continue to drink out doors.

"If we get reports of a problem with people drinking in public in a particular area, I will contact the PSNI and ask them to have a look at it. And that is where the deterrent should lie for those involved.

"Being found guilty of this offence will have serious implications for your future. You might appear in court and get off with a £100 fine, but the next time you apply for a job or decide to go travelling, you will have to tick the little box that asks 'have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence?'

"So that is where I would advise people to stop and think before taking a carry out down to the river or wherever. It may seem like a minor offence, but it carries very serious implications," Mr Turner said.

Echoing the Council's warnings over drinking in public, the PSNI added that they would not hesitate in bringing people to book where necessary.

"Drinking in public creates an environment in which anti-social behaviour, assaults and criminal damage often emerge. Where police have powers to deal with this behaviour they will do so in a robust, even handed way with the aim of maintaining public safety."

a spokesperson added.