Police warn licensees: play by the rules or lose your license
| Published: 16th August 2007 15:59 |
Police have told licensees in Somerset that they will be taking a tougher stance after more disappointing test purchase results.
Police have been carrying out a number of test purchases with Trading Standards on licensed premises over the last few months. A test purchase involves an obviously underage person, pre-selected by police and trading standards, going in to licensed premises and trying to buy alcohol.
Since April 1 2007 there have been 36 on-license (pubs and clubs) test purchases across Somerset. Disappointingly 24 of these failed (67%).
38 off-licences have been checked with test purchases. 15 (39%) failed the test.
Superintendent Gary Davies said: "These results are alarming and it is very disappointing that these premises sold alcohol to young people clearly under age.
"Sixty-seven percent of on-license premises failing this very basic test is an unacceptable position and one that we cannot tolerate. We are all too aware of the vulnerability of young people and how the misuse of alcohol can manifest itself at one end of the scale in antisocial behaviour or at the other end in rendering young girls to being vulnerable to sexual assault.
"Some licensees have been getting away with this for too long now and it is time they woke up and took notice of how seriously we take this matter.
"We believe underage drinking is an underlying cause of antisocial behaviour that blights people's lives and are we determined to do something about this.
"Alcohol is a contributory factor in 50% of all violent crime incidents. In addition a significant number of road traffic collisions have the misuse of alcohol as the root cause. Understandably there is growing concern both within government agencies and the public at large regarding the huge economic and emotional cost that is caused by alcohol misuse.
"With continually disappointing results like these we are going to have to consider revoking the licenses of certain premises."
The Police, together with Somerset County Council, your District Council and the Primary Care trust have formed a partnership - STARC (Somerset Tackling Alcohol Related Crime) to help tackle this problem.
Recent legislation now allows police to close a pub for 48 hours if it is caught selling alcohol to an underage person three or more times in a three month period.
Superintendent Davies continued: "I urge licensees to respond to our plea to improve standards. We want to work with the licensing trade but with these results tougher enforcement is becoming the only option.
"We believe that by working together to implement a number of measures we can have a positive effect. Over the next year we will carry out both education and enforcement activities for which we would like their (licensees) support.
"Further police and trading standards activities are planned this summer across Somerset and we would urge them to act now by insisting on proof of age being produced by people who look under 21."
Councillor Jim Mochnacz, Somerset County Council's Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, said: "The STARC Partnership wants to work with retailers to improve standards across Somerset. We know that training is a key element in the alcohol trade and would recommend the British Institute of Innkeepers course on the responsible retailing of alcohol aimed at off-licence and bar staff.
"Another excellent initiative we would urge bars to take up is the introduction of shatterproof or toughened glass or plastic and the decanting of non-plastic bottles prior to serving. We know that this has had a dramatic effect in reducing the severity of injuries whether caused deliberately or otherwise."
Those licensees requiring more information should visit the force website on www.avonandsomerset.police.uk or call 0845 456 7000 to find out how to contact your local neighbourhood police team.
A letter has gone to every licensee in Somerset to warn them of the tougher stance being taken by the police.
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