With 2007 soon to draw to a close, a disappointingly high number of businesses on the Isle of Wight failed alcohol test purchasing exercises since April this year.
In the latest round of testing held in Ryde on 6 December, two out of the five premises visited served alcohol to a 15 year old.
In total, 52 pubs have been the subject of Isle of Wight Council Trading Standards test purchase exercises since April. Out of these, 13 served alcohol to an underage customer and were given a fixed penalty notice. This means a quarter of the pubs visited failed during test purchase exercises.
Working under the control of Trading Standards officers and in conjunction with Hampshire Constabulary, a 15 or 16 year old attempts to buy an alcoholic drink. If the teenager is not refused or asked for ID and is served a drink, a uniformed officer will then enter the building and issue the penalty notice to both the staff member and the license holder. If a business is consistently caught selling alcohol to underage customers, they could lose their license.
Richard Stone, Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standard’s Manager said “The council is determined to crack down on the sale of products such as alcohol to underage customers. These sales in Ryde are particularly disappointing in the lead up to Christmas when vigilance should be high. Having 13 out of 52 pubs fail test purchase exercises is 13 too many”
Cllr Diana Tuson, Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods said “Alcohol is one of the key factors in street crime and disorder and teenagers being able to buy alcohol only contributes to the problem. It is essential that all licensees play their part in reducing crime by being vigilant when they serve customers”
