Harry's boozy schooling

Oct 3, 2006, 13:58 GMT

Britain's Prince Harry's boozy behaviour is the result of him being sent to private school - a new book claims.

British writer Tom Sykes is a former pupil of Eton College, the boarding school which the 22-year-old royal also attended, and he puts forward his theory about the prince in his memoirs 'What Did I Do Last Night? A Drunkard's Tale'.

Sykes revealed that alcohol is part of a reward system at the boarding school and is treated as a privilege for the pupils.

Sykes, who himself was expelled from Eton for alcohol-related misbehaviour, said: "In England, the legal drinking age is 18, but at Eton College you are allowed in the school bar, which is called 'Tap', at 16. The school circumvented the licensing laws by claiming 'Tap' was a private club. Technically you were only allowed two pints of beer. In reality, you had to fall over before they cut you off."

Harry is known for enjoying boozy nights out with friends to bars and clubs in London's Mayfair.

Last week, Harry drunkenly threw smoke bombs into a marquee at a friend's birthday party.

(C) BANG Media International