Schoolies the drunkest ever - police
Schoolies the drunkest ever - police
UPDATE 6pm: This year's batch of schoolies are the drunkest ever and have shown little respect for Queensland's drinking laws, according to police.
Statistics show double the number of schoolies have been arrested for being drunk and disorderly, and an increase in the number charged with drinking in public.
Gold Coast District Supt Jim Keogh says intoxication levels of teenagers is a grave concern after 67 arrests for being drunk in public compared with 21 in the opening week last year.
He said 465 tickets were issued for consuming alcohol in a public place compared with 331 last year.
"I would say their intox levels are the highest I have seen in the many years I have been doing schoolies," Supt Keogh told reporters.
"I think they have had access to alcohol for many years.
"The drunkenness or the arrests for drunkenness have all been in a public area.Gold Coast District Supt Jim Keogh says intoxication levels of teenagers is a grave concern after 67 arrests for being drunk in public compared with 21 in the opening week last year.
He said 465 tickets were issued for consuming alcohol in a public place compared with 331 last year.
"I would say their intox levels are the highest I have seen in the many years I have been doing schoolies," Supt Keogh told reporters.
"I think they have had access to alcohol for many years.
"Their ability to address social law or interact socially in the broader community leaves a lot to be desired."
A 17-year-old Brisbane schoolie, charged with assault and drug possession, was among 25 schoolies arrested on Friday night in Surfers Paradise. Police allege he assaulted a security guard and another male schoolie while waiting in line at the Wrist Band Distribution Centre.
Police laid 31 charges against the 25 schoolies. The crowds on Friday night were significantly higher that the corresponding evening last year.
It's estimated 25,000 attended the end-of-school celebrations on Friday night compared with 16,000 in 2008.
The majority of arrests of schoolies and non-schoolies (54 arrests) were for public nuisance, drunkenness and street offences.
Earlier reports said a fight erupted between female schoolies on Friday night as more Victorian VCE graduates arrived on the Gold Coast.
It's estimated 25,000 attended the end-of-school celebrations on Friday night compared with 16,000 in 2008.
The majority of arrests of schoolies and non-schoolies (54 arrests) were for public nuisance, drunkenness and street offences.
Earlier reports said a fight erupted between female schoolies on Friday night as more Victorian VCE graduates arrived on the Gold Coast.
About six girls viciously punched each other and scuffled in the sand in the official schoolies hub on the Surfers Paradise foreshore just after midnight yesterday, as other teens gathered around and jeered.
Unfazed by the violence, some boys called out sexual obscenities and spectators danced and chanted as the girls were dragged off each other.
One distressed girl involved in the fight was crying. A member of the rival group approached her after the brawl and appeared to apologise.
The Herald Sun did not see any security guards try to stop the fight, which lasted less than a minute.
Gold Coast Supt Jim Keogh said he could not comment on the incident but he was very happy with the work of security during the schoolies festival.
The fight, which happened just as a DJ finished his set and the hub closed for the night, broke out after words were exchanged between two groups.
The Queensland Government-sponsored hub is an alcohol-free zone only for registered schoolies wearing official wristbands.
Research from drug experts and police arrest statistics shows illegal substance abuse at schoolies has dropped, but binge drinking has risen: 90 per cent of schoolies partying in Queensland this week will consume booze, 25 per cent will smoke cannabis, and 11 per cent will take ecstasy, trend figures indicate.
Cannabis use has been declining since 1999, and levels of ecstasy use have been stable for the past 10 years, the data from the Centre for Addiction Research and Education revealed.
Supt Keogh said drug use was down, but alcohol consumption was up among schoolies this year.
Organisers said more Victorians had arrived late yesterday to pick up their registration and identification.
Up to 10,000 NSW and Victorian schoolies - most of them over 18 - are continuing to arrive.
Paramedics and police were on high alert for violence and drunkenness last night, with Queensland teens, who are mostly 17, finishing their portion of schoolies celebrations with a bang.
Surfers Paradise police will change tactics as the adult-age Victorian and NSW schoolies arrive.
Victorian schoolies will party into next week in venues with non-schoolies patrons, creating a new challenge for police.
Unfazed by the violence, some boys called out sexual obscenities and spectators danced and chanted as the girls were dragged off each other.
One distressed girl involved in the fight was crying. A member of the rival group approached her after the brawl and appeared to apologise.
The Herald Sun did not see any security guards try to stop the fight, which lasted less than a minute.
Gold Coast Supt Jim Keogh said he could not comment on the incident but he was very happy with the work of security during the schoolies festival.
The fight, which happened just as a DJ finished his set and the hub closed for the night, broke out after words were exchanged between two groups.
The Queensland Government-sponsored hub is an alcohol-free zone only for registered schoolies wearing official wristbands.
Research from drug experts and police arrest statistics shows illegal substance abuse at schoolies has dropped, but binge drinking has risen: 90 per cent of schoolies partying in Queensland this week will consume booze, 25 per cent will smoke cannabis, and 11 per cent will take ecstasy, trend figures indicate.
Cannabis use has been declining since 1999, and levels of ecstasy use have been stable for the past 10 years, the data from the Centre for Addiction Research and Education revealed.
Supt Keogh said drug use was down, but alcohol consumption was up among schoolies this year.
Organisers said more Victorians had arrived late yesterday to pick up their registration and identification.
Up to 10,000 NSW and Victorian schoolies - most of them over 18 - are continuing to arrive.
Paramedics and police were on high alert for violence and drunkenness last night, with Queensland teens, who are mostly 17, finishing their portion of schoolies celebrations with a bang.
Surfers Paradise police will change tactics as the adult-age Victorian and NSW schoolies arrive.
Victorian schoolies will party into next week in venues with non-schoolies patrons, creating a new challenge for police.
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