Blackburn hotline prompts underage sales reporting

A telephone hotline has been launched in Blackburn for residents to report licensees who sell alcohol to children. The local council, police and primary care trust launched the Call Time hotline on Friday 12 January to give the public a confidential route for reporting pubs, clubs or

off-licences.

The news comes in the same week as a Blackburn pub had its licence suspended for a month after selling alcohol to underage drinkers.

The Grove pub in Church Street was the first in the borough to face a review of its licence for underage sales, under new powers introduced by the Licensing Act.

It is joined by two off-licences which were caught in sting operations as part of last October's Government- funded Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (AMEC). About 40 premises nationally are facing licence reviews as a result.

Local councillor Dave Hollings said: "The laws on the sale of alcohol are there to protect children and residents from the nuisance caused by under age drinking.

"I'm delighted the committee has taken firm action and hope other retailers take heed. If they have any doubts at all, they should think of the law and ask young people to prove their age."