Clampdown On Underage Drinkers In Cheltenahm

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Clampdown On Underage Drinkers In Cheltenahm

Clampdown On Underage Drinkers In Cheltenahm Town Centre - Shopkeepers Fined

A recent clampdown on premises' selling alcohol to underage drinkers has shown that although most shopkeepers are getting the message there is still some work to be done.

Test purchases were carried out in Cheltenham Town Centre on Thursday May 9 as Part Operation Kola.

During the operation a 15-year-old was sent to nine shops and although most shopkeepers refused to sell the youngster alcohol two failed the test.

One shop sold the teenager a bottle of wine while the another sold six bottles of beer.

Staff in both shops who handed over the alcohol were given fixed penalty notices of �80 each.

Inspector of Cheltenham Town Centre Andy Poole said although the results of the test purchases were encouraging it was still not acceptable that alcohol was still being sold to underage teenagers.
He added: "It continues to disappoint when premises readily sell alcohol to children. I have only recently assisted in the arrest of a 17-year-old girl from Imperial Gardens who was so drunk she could not stand up. At custody she was repeatedly sick, if left in the gardens she could easily of died choking on her own vomit.

And he continued: "All licensed premises need to be aware that they have a responsibility to challenge any one appearing to look under 21 years old to help prevent the sale of alcohol to those under 18. If they fail to do this and are pinpointed through test purchases they will have their licenses reviewed and may be prohibited from selling alcohol in the future.
This operation is just one of a series of test purchases to be carried out in the area throughout the year and there is no room for complacency within the retail industry."

Posted : 11/05/2007 13:22:36

PLEASE NOTE: This story has been archived and the information contained within it may no longer be correct.


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