Speaking before the free concert to be held on the lawns of Parliament House on Friday evening, operation commander Robert Wilson said the police would be out in force in Civic, Woden and the parliamentary precinct, and would particularly focus on identifying drunk teenagers.

''Our main priority is for families to have a good time, and we'll do our utmost through a high visibility presence, not only through the parliamentary precinct but right throughout Canberra to be sure that happens and to prevent antisocial behaviour,'' he said.

Under-18s caught drunk or with alcohol will be taken to City Police Station and their parents called to collect them, he said.

Police will patrol around Parliament House from midday, and will be checking places where young people are known to drink alcohol.

At the 2012 concert police took 44 young people into custody for drunkenness or possessing alcohol.

ACT Policing and NSW Police have also urged caution on the roads over the Australia Day long weekend.

Drivers caught speeding or not wearing seatbelts in the ACT will lose double demerit points from Friday until midnight on Monday, and an extra demerit point on top of standard punishments will be lost for all other driving offences.

NSW Police will be running Operation Safe Return over the weekend, combating drunk, drug-impaired and tired drivers, speeding and people not wearing seatbelts. Larissa Nicholson