Devon Trading Standards has refuted claims it supplied a teenage test purchaser with fake ID to hoodwink staff at a Newton Abbott pub.
It has denied any involvement in the incident that is said to have taken place at Ye Olde Cider Bar in the town.
A message from a licensee posted on our forum alleged an under age drinker offered an international driving licence as proof of age.
The posting said that after it was accepted as genuine, the document turned out to be a fake and the barmaid involved incurred an £80 fixed penalty notice.
But Peter Greene, fair trading manager for the department, denied his staff had conducted a test purchase exercise in the bar.
Greene said his department followed strict national guidelines when conducting test purchase exercises.
"None of our operations have used children with fake IDs or IDs of any sort," he said.
"We ensure all volunteer children do not dress up to look older that they actually are and they are instructed to tell the truth if asked questions by barstaff," he added.
Greene said children are also instructed to reveal their true age when challenged and explain they are working alongside trading standards.
He added: "We are working to support local licensees and other businesses in their duty to comply with aged restricted legislation and to this end we have distributed copies of free DVD videos and a staff training pack to almost 5,000 Devon licensees."