A special testing kit to check teenagers are not disguising alcohol in soft drinks, cans or bottles is being issued to police in County Durham. The chemically-treated white litmus strips turn blue when dipped in any liquid containing alcohol.
Police investigating reports of young people drinking in public will use them to check claims that only soft drinks are being consumed.
Alcohol will be confiscated and may end up being poured down the nearest drain.
'Useful deterrent'
Officers from the south area licensing unit heard about the idea from Greater Manchester Police, and conducted a pilot scheme in and around Darlington.
Pc Steve Brown said: "We found the strips worked very well, especially in outdoor situations where young people claimed all they were drinking was cola, lemonade or some other soft drink.
"But as soon as officers produced the strips they changed their tune and came clean.
"The litmus test should prove a useful deterrent to youngsters drinking in public and causing problems as a result."
One-Minute World News 
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