The Australia Day Live concert was marred by underage drinking last night as dozens of youths were taken into protective custody.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Superintendent Kylie Flower said ACT Policing had caught 41 young people either intoxicated or in possession of alcohol by 9.30pm.
With several hours to go, a police spokeswoman admitted more could be detained before the end of the night.
The figures follow a boom in underage drinking last year when more than 70 juveniles were apprehended for consuming alcohol compared with just 10 the year before.
A further four minors had been apprehended for possession of cannabis, one of which was allegedly in possession of a knife.
The figures were quite dramatic given just five intoxicated adults had been taken into protective custody on the same night.
Superintendent Flower said no other arrests were made up until 9.30pm last night.
''The rest of the crowd has been excellent and extremely well-behaved,'' she said.
