Alcohol-related disorder over the weekend has Balclutha police concerned.
An underage party got out of control, some South Otago pub-goers showed they did not know their limits, and police picked up four drunk drivers on Saturday night, Senior Constable Tom Taylor said.
At a North Balclutha party on Saturday night, gate-crashers took party numbers to 40 youths, with only two parent chaperones, who were unable to control the crowd, he said.
Neighbours called in noise control officers and the police became involved.
''We're not a baby-sitting service,'' Snr Const Taylor said.
''[Underage parties] shouldn't get to that stage; they should organise so it doesn't get like that - a ratio of two adults to 30 or more kids is not going to be a good amount for supervision.''
He said with the approach of the South Otago High School seniors' ball, youth parties would increase and adult chaperones should ensure they had ''express consent'' from parents of underage drinkers attending parties.
But it was not just youths mixing alcohol and emotions that gave police headaches at the weekend.
At Milton, on Saturday night, a man who had been refused service at a bar tried to enter the premises with his own beer and ended up in ''a scuffle'' with the doorman when he was denied entry.
Another would-be Milton pub-goer pulled up to the pub in his car and, as a police officer was securing his vehicle, ''did a runner''.
He was located and taken to the police station where he recorded a breath-alcohol level of 615mcg.
On Saturday night, police picked up an alleged recidivist drink-driver in Balclutha who recorded a breath-alcohol level of 633mcg.
Two drivers were processed at Lawrence at the weekend, one recording a breath-alcohol level of 371mcg, and the other 788mcg.
