Zambian police and local authorities over the week-end embarked on a crackdown on night clubs, arresting hundreds of teenagers who were found drinking beer, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Monday.
The authorities arrested more than 130 teenagers on Saturday in Lusaka, the country's capital and Ndola in the Copperbelt Province who were found drinking beer. One hundred teenagers were arrested in Ndola and 33 in Lusaka, with the youngest being 12 years old, Daily Mail said.
Zambia does not allow young people under 18 to drink beer.
Lusaka City Council (LCC) Public Relations officer Henry Kapata said among those arrested in Lusaka 23 were under 14 years. Some boys were
detained for attempting to stop police from arresting their teenage girlfriends. The teenagers were arrested at a popular night club Tall Trees.
He described the crackdown as a program of inspecting drinking places, saying it will be conducted frequently. Wwners of night clubs allowing under-age to patronize their places will be prosecuted, he added.
Ndola City Council Public Relations Manager Roy Kuseka said in a statement that the teenagers were arrested after an operation in 32 night clubs in the city, Daily Mail said.
He said the police had to fire teargas canisters to prevent unruly residents who attempted to interfere in the operation.