Police crackdown on pubs selling to under age boozers (From Daily Echo)

Police crackdown on pubs selling to under age boozers

10:57am Friday 16th November 2012 in News By Luke Tugby, Senior reporter

Police crackdown on pubs selling to under age boozers

Police have launched a crackdown on pubs and bars on the Isle of Wight selling alcohol to under age customers.

A host of wateringholes have been visited by licensing teams as part of a juvenile test-purchasing operation, which saw penalty notices issued to four premises across the island.

Two bars in Ryde, as well as a public house and a hotel in Shanklin, were handed the punishments after selling alcohol to a 16-year-old without requesting proof of age.

A further four pubs and two shops were tested, but staff asked for identification and refused the sale.

Amanda Gregory, Isle of Wight Council regulatory services manager, said: “It is very disappointing these four premises failed test purchase operations.

“The council works very closely with the police and we take a very dim view on any business that fails these operations, whether it be for selling alcohol, knives, tobacco or any other age-restricted product.”