Tories talk tough on underage sales and cheap booze
The Conservative Party wants a "three strikes and you're out" rule for underage booze sales and a ban on selling alcohol below cost price.
A spokesman for the party stressed: "While this will apply to the on-trade and the off-trade, it's aimed at off-licence premises. That's where we see the problem being."
The Tories also want maximum fines for repeated underage sales to double from £10,000 to £20,000.
The plans are part of a new policy for "tougher action to curb underage binge drinking".
The party said it wants to change the Licensing Act so a venue that serves alcohol to an under-18 would potentially get a fine and a licence suspension.
A second offence within three years would mean an automatic fine and review of its licence. A third failure would trigger an automatic revocation of the licence and a fine.
The party is to seek legal advice about making below-cost alcohol sales illegal without breaking European competition laws. The Conservative's Alcohol Policy Group will draw up detailed proposals on this issue in the coming weeks.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "The Government's lax approach to 24-hour drinking has fuelled violent crime and disorder on our streets.
"There are no simple solutions. We need concerted law enforcement to curb the mayhem generated by this reckless approach.
"Today, we are sending a clear signal that a Conservative government will take action to prevent the cheap sale of cut-price alcohol and clamp down on the minority of retailers who turn a blind eye to those buying alcohol under-age."
Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt added: "The vast majority of retailers sell alcohol responsibly but its time we got tough with those who don't.
"Harsher fines and a simple three strikes and you're out policy on selling to under age customers would stop irresponsible retailers in their tracks."
