A crackdown on teen drinking has been urged by the outgoing head of the Centre of Alcohol and Drugs Abuse Prevention (CADA).

CADA executive director Dominique Smith said Government should implement 1983 Royal Commission findings which recommended all customers be challenged for identification proving their age before being admitted to bars and clubs.

And Ms Smith said it was time to re-examine the law which allowed teens into pubs before they were allowed to drink.

Currently 16-year-olds are allowed into clubs and pubs but they are only allowed alcohol at 18.

Ms Smith said this created a nightmare for staff trying to keep tabs on teens once they were inside licensed premises.

Bartenders caught selling minors drinks are liable to fines of up to $300.

"Once they are in the establishment, over age people buy drinks for them.

It's very difficult to monitor. Drinking establishments are in a difficult position,'' said Ms Smith.

"A law change is something which should be looked at. All the parties need to sit down and consider it.'' However she pointed out that clubs and pubs could ban all teens who were under drinking age if they wished.

Ms Smith spelled out why identification checks should be made mandatory to get into bars and clubs.

She said: "It sends a message to the community that there is serious concern about underage drinking.

"It lets venues understand the rules and gives them the sense that if they are checking people's ID and doing everything according to the rules then at least they have a defence that they have done their job.

"I don't know the reason why the Commission was ignored but it's time this was implemented. There is now a lot more awareness of the impact of alcohol on society.'' She said there was no need to get American-style identification for Bermuda's teens.

"Most 16 year olds run bikes and have driver's licenses so those are probably the best types of ID to use.

"If they are from overseas then their passport would do.

"But it's no good just showing an ID from a foreign university. That isn't good enough. A lot of people are using fake IDs.'' Jay Correia, chairman of the Restaurant and Night Club division of the Chamber of Commerce, backed calls for mandatory identification checks on drinkers.

He said: "If anyone could possibly be underage then card them. It's accepted as normal throughout North America.'' But Mr. Correia said barring under 18s from pubs would be going too far as this would target children enjoying a lunchtime meal with their family.

He said the issue of banning teens under 18 from nightclubs should be looked at.

"Under age drinking is ingrained in our culture and it needs to be addressed.'' He said: "But we don't want to be overly restrictive when we are in a tourist environment.

"I don't necessarily think restricting the underage people from coming in would be good. You have to think of the families.'' Mr. Correia said he was helping implement a respectable drinking programme. He said dealing with identification was one aspect of the training policy.

Mr. Correia, who is the owner of the Swizzle Inn, said: "At my pub, if we think someone asking for a drink isn't 18 and they can't produce I.D., they have to leave.'' Calls for a ban on underage teens in bars received strong support from a bartender The Royal Gazette spoke to.

The bar man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Think about it. It's incredibly stupid. They can be in the bar but not be served. That means someone can buy them a drink without the bartender knowing.

"Of course the law should be changed. Bartenders would be relieved of the responsibility of having to monitor for young looking people, stopping to check ID cards and monitoring how many drinks a group might be taking out of sight.

"It's an archaic law designed for another time. That's most bartenders' understanding -- that children can legally be in a club. We don't really know.

"If we are not responsible for a person who does something stupid after drinking why should we be responsible for someone who can legally be in the club? "I have been threatened by adults because I refused to serve them because one of their group was wearing a high school jacket with a graduation date a few months away.

"Other bartenders served them in other clubs because they were too busy to notice.

"It is a loophole of black hole proportions and encourages irresponsible drinking.

"Change the law then the clubs would have to keep them out. Imagine a legal challenge in court by a child for not allowing them in at night? The clubs don't want them inside anyway!''