Teenagers are hanging around the city's Spanish Arch . . . one of Ireland's best-known tourist attractions . . . drinking the "liquid speed" that sends them "wild", according to Fianna Fail's Michael Crowe. The councillor claimed the tonic wine was at the root of serious anti-social problems all over the country because of its affordability and availability.

"Buckfast, or 'Buckie' as it is known, is causing major problems in Galway . . . it is loony juice, " claims Crowe. "It is classified as a 'medicated spirit' along with drinks such as Halls Tonic Wine and Sanatogen Tonic Wine, which is just ridiculous. You do not see teenagers hanging around the Spanish Arch necking Halls Tonic Wine . . . they are totally different entities."

The tonic wine has been made by the Benedictine monks of Buckfast Abbey in Devon in the South West of England since the 1890s.

Originally sold in small quantities by the Abbey itself, as a medicine with the slogan, 'Three small glasses a day, for good health and lively blood', Buckfast has become synonymous with student drinkers all over Ireland and Britain under the unofficial slogan 'Buckfast gets you f****ed fast'.

The drink is extremely popular in Galway, in the North - where it is available on tap in Lurgan, Co Armagh and known as 'Lurgan Champagne' . . . and in Lanarkshire, Scotland, which is often termed "The Buckfast Triangle." Last month, Scotland's health minister Andy Kerr condemned the drink as "seriously bad" and met its distributors amid concerns that it was fuelling petty crime and public drunkenness.

Said Crowe: "Buckfast may be a tonic, but it is clear that it is predominantly being used for other purposes in this country. I do not know of any people who use it to boost their immune systems, but I have heard some people describe it as 'liquid speed' As it stands, it can be sold without a license because of its classification, and this is making it far too easy for young people to get their hands on it.

"Drinking a whole bottle of the stuff clearly sends young people wild, and as it is mainly young, and underage, people who are drinking it. I think an extra tax should be issued on it to affect its affordability at least. So many parks and public areas in Galway are ruined with discarded 'Buckie' bottles, leaving broken glass around areas where children will be playing. It's scandalous."

Jim Wilson, a spokesman for Buckfast, said, "The way we look at this is that anti-social behaviour is happening late at night in towns and cities across Europe. It is the individual's responsibility as to how they behave and to go and blame Buckfast or other any drink for this behaviour is only an excuse."

The government imposed a 35% increase on alcopops in 2002 and Crowe claims that a similar tax increase is needed to deter young people from buying Buckfast. "At 14.8% a bottle, it really is strong stuff, " he said. "I think its unofficial slogan is 'Buckfast gets you f***ed fast' . . . so that says it all really."