Local councils have handed out very few fines to bars and shops for selling alcohol to the under 18s since the law was changed at the beginning of this year.

According to research by broadcaster Nos, just 18 of the 200 local councils it questioned had issued a fine while half had not even issued any warnings. Four out of 10 councils have not yet drawn up a strategy to deal with the issue.

Since the beginning of this law it has been illegal to sell beer and wine to the under 18s. The age limit for spirits was already 18.

However, one third of councils said they are experiencing more problems with youngsters hanging around on the streets. And over a quarter said they had seen an increase in the number of illegal drinking dens set up by teenagers.

Last year over 700 young teenagers were taken to hospital after drinking too much. Their average age was 15.5.