GARRY KINGETT is a man who saw a problem with drunk youths pitching up to the Sweatbox club.

He saw a way to combat that problem – presumably in the hope that the threat of being breathalysed would be enough to keep the kids on the straight and narrow.

But once again we see a well-intentioned, measured and sensible initiative derailed by bureaucrats more interested in cuddly schemes than making hard decisions.

Education about alcohol and drug use is fine and has its place.

But thinking that will stop a certain percentage of teenagers from turning up at the youth club intoxicated is naive.

Teenagers will be teenagers and some will drink to excess — the quote from Mr Kingett at the time was that there were youths who were “absolutely bladdered”.

Just because other youth clubs do not use breathalysers is not a good enough reason to slap down an idea that the man on the ground, dealing with the issues, believes has merit.

The vice-principal of the local school is in favour and the police could hardly have been said to condemn it.

The county council should be addressing the problem rather than just rejecting something because it is not used elsewhere.