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Crackdown on underage drinking in Knowsley

24 April 2009

Knowsley Council’s Trading Standards Officers, working with Merseyside Police, are continuing the crackdown on underage drinking as part of its borough-wide ‘Get Real’ campaign.

A joint test purchasing initiative took place on Wednesday, 16 April in off licensed premises in Huyton and Prescot.

A 15-year-old volunteer attempted to buy alcohol in five off-licences. In three premises, the sale of alcohol was refused.

Two sales took place and both sellers have been issued with £80 Fixed Penalty Notices for selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years.  Both premises will be subject to a licence review and further legal action is being considered.

Trading Standards and Police in Knowsley regularly conduct alcohol test purchase exercises with the assistance of volunteer youngsters acting as the purchaser. Staff that sell to underage people are liable to an £80 on-the-spot fine.  Licensees face prosecution and premises can have their licence to sell alcohol revoked.

Cllr Ken Keith, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Corporate & Customer Services commented “As part of our Get Real Campaign, Officers from our Environmental Health and Consumer Protection Team will continue to carry out test purchases across the borough throughout the coming months.  We are very pleased that the majority of premises refused to sell alcohol to our under age volunteer, which demonstrates retailers understand the law and their responsibilities. Retailers are thanked for this and we will continue to work with our partners and retailers to ensure the sale of alcohol to under 18s is prevented.” 

Licensing Sergeant, John Atkinson, added “We will continue to work in partnership with Trading Standards Officers to carry out joint underage test purchasing initiatives across the borough and take robust action against licensees who sell alcohol to under age persons.  Breaches could ultimately lead to licensees losing their licence. Our message to licensees is simple – if in doubt, ask for proof of age.”

Note to Editors

Get Real was launched in November 2008 aimed at raising awareness of the age limits to sell age restricted goods including alcohol, tobacco, knives and solvents.  The campaign has targeted retailers, parents and young people.  Knowsley Council has visited every store in the borough which sells age-restricted goods with comprehensive information packs, giving retailers advice and guidance as well as explaining the penalties they face if they break the law.  The campaign supports enforcement activities taking place across the borough including test purchasing initiatives in partnership with Merseyside Police.