GARDAI have begun clamping down on drinking in public areas across the country.

'Operation Dutch Gold' saw gardai target anti-social behaviour in Lucan, Co Dublin, where they issued 32 on-the-spot fines last month to offenders.

However, Comans Wholesale, the Tallaght-based company which imports Dutch Gold lager into the country, said that it was strongly opposed to underage drinking and that the naming of the project was unfair to them.

"We felt that there are a lot of problems which are not specific to any particular brand. We go out of our way not to have any links with festivals or sports events that other brands might do," marketing manager Brian Callan said. "We don't want to get involved with any events that appeal to a younger audience."

But Dublin Mid-West TD John Curran said 'Operation Dutch Gold' had been a great success and called for it to be extended to the rest of the country.

MICHAEL BRENNAN