Cracking down on young boozers in Bedfordshire
25 June 2008
Bedfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service is working closely with partner organisations to crack down on the issue of underage drink and tobacco sales in the County.
To date, 90% of shops that sell alcohol and tobacco have been given a Traders Charter Pack that provides retailers with guidance and advice on legal issues. Each pack was accompanied by a visit from a Trading Standard Officer to ensure retailers fully understand the part they play in underage sales.
Cllr Bob King, Bedfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "I cannot stress how important it is to stop the sale of alcohol and tobacco to underage people.
"Retailers have a massive part to play in tackling this issue. If a retailer has any questions around what they should do when it comes to underage sales, they can contact the County Council Trading Standards Service for advice and support.
"However, if retailers continue to sell to underage people they will be fined and could potentially lose their licence. The message is simple. If you are unsure if someone is old enough to buy alcohol or tobacco, ask for identification. No ID, no sale."
County Council Trading Standards Officers also regularly join police in Mid-Bedfordshire to carry out joint ‘test purchasing’, as well as being involved in schemes Pub Watch, Bedsafe and Mid-Bedsafe schemes.
A recent underage test purchase programme carried out by Bedfordshire County Council Trading Standards showed that out of 93 premises ‘test-purchased’ in Bedfordshire, 45 sold alcohol to underage people.
Carl Davies, Head of Trading Standards at Bedfordshire County Council Trading Standards, said: "Tackling underage sales is one of the service’s top priorities and we have a significant amount of resources dedicated to it.
"We have developed strong working relationships with organisations like the police and people from other councils and regularly share information relating to underage sales. By doing this we are able to build a good picture of who is selling to underage people and specifically target these premises.
Trading Standards Officers along with Bedfordshire County Council’s Youth Service team are currently working on a Peer Education Programme to educate 15-17 year olds on the health risks around drinking and the legal implications of the ‘sales by proxy’ of alcohol. It is hoped that this programme will shortly begin trials in selected local schools.
ENDS