Store Staff Praised After Under Age Booze Operation
The 16-year olds visited 15 stores and supermarkets in Tamworth and Burton in an operation to test whether licensees and staff were complying with the law.
In the Tamworth area, the young people were sold booze on three occasions - every other time they tried, they were refused because they looked too young.
In Burton, the teenagers were sold alcohol at just two premises during the test purchase action by police and Staffordshire Trading Standards officers.
As a result, staff at shops which sold illegally, were given £80 fixed penalty notices for selling alcohol to a person under 18. Further action may also be taken against the stores.
PC Stephen Williams, of Trent Valley division's licensing unit, said the actions were a reminder to shop staff that police and trading standards shared community concern over the consequences of under age drinking in terms of anti-social behaviour and health risks.
"Selling alcohol to people under the age of 18, or people buying drinks for them, are serious offences and could lead to licensees losing their livelihoods," he said.
"We were pleased that at the vast majority of shops, our team of young people were refused service, but all staff need to stay vigilant at this busy time of year."
The under cover test purchases were a joint operation involving police and Staffordshire Trading Standards and are to continue across the division in the coming weeks and months.
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