"MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE" - NO UNDERAGE SALES
Royal Borough trading standards officers have once again praised local off-licences and supermarkets following the latest joint operation aimed at clamping down on under-age sales of alcohol.
Officers working with the police and members of the council’s licensing team last week visited 11 premises across the borough and specially-trained young people attempted to buy alcohol whilst being secretly monitored by trading standards staff.
Officers are confident that the message on under-age sales of alcohol is finally hitting home after only one retailer actually sold alcohol to a young person during the operation.
Under Criminal Justice Act powers introduced in 2005, the staff member who handled the sale was given an on-the-spot £80 fixed penalty notice from the police, and trading standards officers are now considering what action to take against the retailer.
The continuing clampdown on under-age sales of alcohol is reinforced by the ongoing message to licensees to always ask for proof of identity such as driving licence, passport or PASS-accredited ID card – and to ensure that staff whose duties include selling alcohol receive proper training and support.
Steve Johnson, trading standards manager, said: "We are delighted with the result of this latest operation in Maidenhead and Windsor. It seems as if the message really is hitting home to retailers that we will clamp down extremely hard on anyone who sells alcohol – and any other age-restricted product - to a minor.
"We are also continuing to stress the importance of asking for proof of age and refuse to sell to anyone suspected of being under-age who cannot produce this proof."
Debie Pearmain, police licensing officer, said: "This latest joint operation between ourselves and the Royal Borough is very encouraging and reflects an increased awareness among designated premises supervisors and their staff to be very careful not to sell alcohol to minors. We will continue to work with the borough to clamp down on anyone making illegal sales and review premises licences whenever necessary."
For further information, or to report a shop that sells alcohol to children, you can contact Trading Standards in confidence on 01628 683802 and Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
Date of Release: 20-3-07
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