This in from the Police. Ed
Licensees on the Isle of Wight are being thanked for knowing their limits within the law during the Christmas and New Year party season.
Police licensing officers and Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standards Service carried out underage alcohol test purchase operations in pubs across the island Monday night.
A 16-year-old boy was chosen in line with strict national guidelines to ensure fair tests. The teenage volunteer went to five pubs, where staff refused to sell him alcohol on each occasion.
Some of the premises tested Monday night included pubs where staff had previously failed by selling alcohol to a different underage volunteer during test purchase operations in national Alcohol Awareness Week in October 2010.
Police delighted
Isle of Wight Police Licensing Sergeant Mark Voller said: “The police and Council are delighted that in each case the bar staff required the young man to produce proof that he was over 18, which he was unable to do. The bar staff then took the correct action, refusing to sell alcohol.
“Last week approximately 170 Island licensees voluntarily attended seminars at which trading standards officers and police reminded them of the law regarding under-age sales.
“This operation confirms our belief that most Island retailers wish to avoid selling alcohol to young people, and will require documentary proof of age, as is now required by law.
“We warn licensees, however, that further test purchasing will take place in pubs and off-licences in the near future, and we expect high standards to be maintained.”
Chair of the independent Isle of Wight Pubwatch Stuart Luke said: “Pubwatch supports the test purchasing initiative. It is a licensees’ responsibility to refuse to sell alcohol to anyone who is underage, and this is an obligation under the licence. If premises claim to check for proof of age they should abide by their own policy.”
The police licensing unit works within the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership, which has made a pledge on its standards in tackling anti-social behaviour. More information.
