Shropshire licensees warned on underage drinking
Friday 3rd September 2010, 12:46PM BST.
Shropshire licensees are being warned to tighten up on underage drinking following the “extremely disappointing” results of a test purchasing operation.
The operation, conducted at weekends throughout July and August using 16- and 17-year-olds, resulted in 14 out of 19 licensed premises in Bridgnorth, Oswestry and Shrewsbury failing the test.
The county’s police licensing officer Tony Mantle warned licensees needed to tighten up their checks or else risk being penalised including possibly having their licence revoked.
Mr Mantle, who described the results as “extremely disappointing”, said the responsibility of establishing if customers were aged 18 before serving alcohol lay firmly with licensees and their staff.
He said: “My advice to all premises selling alcohol is to adopt a ‘Challenge 25′ policy.
“This is a nationally recognised scheme whereby if a person looks under the aged of 25, they should be asked to prove they are 18.”
Chief Inspector Martin Whitelegg said: “We will come down hard on premises who disregard the law by selling alcoholic drinks to young people under 18.”
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Here’s an idea:
How about prosecuting them? Using the law as it stands to remove licenses? Or is that too radical???
Get a grip for crying out loud. 14 out of 19 failures is not a “disappointing result” it is proof that no-one actually cares as they know that NOTHING is done, even if they are caught red-handed.
Meanwhile honest, law abiding and above all TAX PAYING citizens have to put up with the misery of packs of marauding feral teenagers ruining their quality of life.
If the authorities wont start enforcing the law, then step aside and let us do it ourselves… Much cheaper than prison and far more effective than ASBOs.
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I agree mostly with Andy here. Taking the license away simply for a week will give the licensees enough of a kick in the teeth to make them more responsible.
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The underage drinker pictured is also causing havoc in Craven Arms;
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/09/03/craven-arms-booze-ban-could-be-delayed-for-eight-months/
It’s a one man crime wave, or you’ve run out of stock photos – either way something should be done!
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Quite correct. We must put a stop to this fellow’s nefarious activities.
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I agree in what Andy has said, we always hear report after report that licensees need to tighten up their checks or risked being penalised.
But are they penalised No, and no doubt in about 6 months time we be reading the same sort of report and the no doubt same response.
Its about time action was taken,instead of delaying it.
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As a barperson I agree with some of the above.The licensing law needs to be acted upton more rigorously, but in saying that isnt an on the spot £80 fine,a criminal record and the risk of losing your license enough of a punishment?! Whilst prosecuting the staff the brewery’s get away with this time and time again using the staff as scapegoats…I think this part needs to change.
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