May 4: Underage clampdown to hit
Pubs are being warned to be on their guard when the strictest ever national clampdown on underage sales sweeps across England and Wales from May 4.
The Home Office Tackling Underage Sales of Alcohol campaign will target pubs, bars and off-licences that sell to under-18s - and for the first time police will use powers under the Violent Crime Reduction Act.
This means pubs could be forced to close for three months or face a £10,000 fine if found selling to minors on three separate occasions, within the 10-week period of the campaign.
Each of the 280 police units around the country will focus on up to 20 known problem venues in their area during the course of the campaign, which replaces the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (AMEC).
Martin Rawlings, director of pub and leisure at the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "This is raising underage stings to another level.
"Every premises has to be careful. If you pass twice, but then fail a third, they can do two more stings."
Licensees have challenged the latest campaign. Graham Rowson, licensee of the Plungington Tavern in Preston, Lancashire, said: "These measures are quite draconian, they should focus on training licensees on how to spot someone who is underage."
At the Marlborough Arms in Chester, Cheshire, licensee David Drew, said: "We do a difficult job and are only told when we are caught out. It would be nice to get a pat on the back every once in a while."
During the last AMEC, which ran from May 8 to June 8 last year, 29 per cent of the targeted pubs across the country were caught serving under-18s.
The Publican says:
This latest campaign will once again shine a fierce light on the issue of underage sales in pubs. It is therefore absolutely essential that licensees are extra vigilant when it comes to checking the age of any customer who may appear to be under 21.
In addition, it is vital that you hammer home to your staff that they must take time to check ID - even during busy periods. The consequences - a three-month closure order or a £10,000 fine - could potentially cripple your business.
