Police seized and poured away alcohol from teenagers after a large group gathered on Herne Bay seafront.

Officers have again appealed to parents to take responsibility for their children. At times during Friday evening the group numbered up to 70 young people aged between 14 and 19.

Sgt Dave Brenchley said: “It was more than high spirits. Our intervention was necessary as the behaviour was deteriorating within the large group, no doubt as a result of alcohol.

“I think that parents simply do not realise what is going on but they must take more of an active role in finding out where their children are going.”

An 18-year-old from Herne Bay was arrested after he refused to hand over an open bottle of wine and attempted to run off.

He was issued with a penalty notice for disorder and a £50 fine for drinking in an alcohol control area when requested not to do so.

He was also directed to leave the area under section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 – this allows a police officer to direct a person aged over 16 to leave an area for a specified period in order to reduce the likelihood of alcohol-related crime.

Officers also warned and issued a section 27 direction to a 17-year-old from Birchington who was seen to throw a plastic bottle of alcohol into the crowd.

Sgt Brenchley added: “I do not think that it is appreciated that within an alcohol control area officers can ask those over 18 to stop drinking and hand over bottles or cans if anti-social behaviour is suspected.”