£1.4m crackdown on teenage drinking

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Sixty-nine youth crime priority areas will get the money to allow them to confiscate alcohol, break up groups of young people who are getting drunk and get them to sign contracts promising to behave.

Each area will also be required to work with families to address the underlying reasons for children's behaviour as well as letting local people know what is being done to address the problem.

Mr Balls said: "We know that during the summer holidays... more young people want to spend time outside with their friends.

"The majority of young people are law-abiding and make a positive contribution to their communities. However, when alcohol is a factor we know that some young people's behaviour can get out of control and this can lead to anti-social behaviour. Communities should not have to put up with this.

"That's why we are determined to keep up the pressure on local areas so that they crackdown on teenage drinking at all times, but especially during the summer months.

"Some areas are better than others at using enforcement powers - but we know with the right combination of tough action on unacceptable or illegal behaviour, and support and prevention for young people at risk of getting into trouble, areas can make real progress tackling this complicated and difficult problem."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "I am committed to tackling underage drinking. Alcohol, especially in the summer, is one of the main drivers of low level youth crime and anti-social behaviour in our communities and this money will help local authorities and police to combat the problem through a mixture of education, enforcement and co-operation with business."

But Helen Newlove, the widow of Garry Newlove who was kicked to death by a gang of youths outside his home in Warrington, told GMTV: "I still think it is not enough money. It is not what it says on the tin because it is going to have to be shared among 69 areas.

"They all need to work together and we need to see results quickly." She said that efforts to disperse teenagers drinking on street corners were ineffective.