Borough Off licences Impress in under age test
Retailers in the Borough that persist in selling alcohol to children are to face tough sanctions, including suspensions of their licence for up to three months, revocation of their licence and/or £20,000 fines and 6 months imprisonment.
Between May and July of this year, a local campaign was conducted through a joint operation between Trading Standards and Bridgend Police to tackle underage sales of alcohol as part of the national Tackling Underage Sales of Alcohol Campaign (TUSAC), which targeted over 3000 suspected ‘problem’ premises.
11 volunteers aged between 14 and 16 went to various off licences in the Borough to conduct a test purchase in an attempt to be sold alcohol.
The premises targeted were a consequence of intelligence, reported incidents or complaints arising from local residents, many of which were voiced in PACT meetings.
68 test purchases took place overall at 24 premises. The result was very encouraging as only 7 test purchases failed, resulting in underage sales of alcohol. Premises that failed the test purchases were from Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, Broadlands, Bettws, Maesteg and Aberkenfig. Fixed penalty notices of £80 were given, and one Designated Premises Supervisor was interviewed with a view to prosecution.
Borough Licensing Officer Kevin Ellis said, “Alcohol fuelled youngsters are a source of anti-social behaviour within the borough and the police in partnership with Trading Standards Officers are actively involved in joint operations targeting those premises which sell alcohol to children. The statistics are very encouraging and sales represented only a small percentage of the total test purchases undertaken. A considerable number of test purchases have now been conducted since the Licensing Act was introduced in November 2003 and sales have steadily fallen. My thanks go to all the volunteers who took part in the latest campaign”
The Department of Health reports that 13 children a day are admitted to hospital as a result of alcohol. Retailers that fail to have robust procedures in place in relation to sales of alcohol may play an indirect role in facilitating irresponsible drinking and associated alcohol-related incidents, such as anti social behaviour in the borough.