OFF LICENCES SELLING ALCOHOL UNDERAGE KIDS

OFF LICENCES SELLING ALCOHOL UNDERAGE KIDS

Over 56% don't ask for any proof of age

A staggering nine out of sixteen Off Licences in the borough sold alcohol to underage shoppers in a survey launched by the council's trading standards department. Of the nine shops that sold illegally, two were national supermarket chains and the rest smaller independent traders.

The test purchasing took place on 23 and 24 April. The two volunteers, aged 14 and 15, bought booze without any trouble or the traders asking for ID.

This was the first test-purchasing campaign in the borough and, considering, the alarming findings, the next one will include cigarettes and other age-restricted goods. Warnings have been issued to all the traders ahead of more sampling over the summer months.

Section 169 of the Licensing Act 1964 makes it illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18. New licensing laws mean the council will have responsibilities from July when liquor licensing transfers from magistrates' courts to the local authority.

"It is extremely worrying that young people can buy alcohol so easily," says Cllr Michael Cartwright, deputy for environment. "It is illegal and leads to health hazards and anti-social behaviour in the borough. Our volunteers were very obviously not 18 and yet nine shops didn't bother to ask for proof of their ages."

"Next time we will prosecute," Cllr Cartwright added. "We are determined shops selling alcohol should take the law seriously and their own responsibilities to the nation's health and the borough's anti-social behaviour seriously too. Ahead of the new summer laws this seemed a good time to test the extent of the problem here."