Business information

Berkhamsted licensee fined for under age sales of alcohol

The branch manager of the Wine Rack in High Street, Berkhamsted, has been fined £250 and ordered to pay costs of £125 for selling alcohol to an under-age customer.

Mr Anthony Riley, who is also the Designated Premises Supervisor of the store, pleaded guilty to the offence at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates' Court on Friday (2 February). The court heard that he served a 16-year-old test purchaser with a 70 cl bottle of Smirnoff Ice at the store on June 1, 2006, having failed to ask her age or request ID.

Hertfordshire Trading Standards brought the prosecution following a test purchasing campaign carried out with the help of the police and under-age volunteers in May and June 2006. On the day of this particular offence, officers from Herts Trading Standards went to 10 shops with the same volunteer - eight of which refused to serve her*.

"Given the continued publicity surrounding the various prosecutions we have already brought for similar offences in various parts of the county, it is always disappointing to see our test purchasing operations still picking up under age sales," said Executive Member for Community Safety and Culture, Keith Emsall. "So, once again, we must warn retailers that our officers will continue to target shops and off-licences again in the near future and we will consider imposing fixed penalty fines of £80 or prosecution, where appropriate.

"Using underage volunteers in this way has continued to prove extremely effective in bringing to book those traders who are selling alcohol illegally. Alcohol abuse among youngsters is a serious problem which we are striving to reduce, not least by trying to make retailers aware of their legal responsibilities."

Berkhamsted Community Sergeant Michael Saunders said: "This clearly requires a culture change for the licensee and the purchaser. Retailers are risking their licence, reputation and livelihood by not asking for identification to people clearly under the age of 18. People whose appearance is that of a person under the age of 18 (or under 21 in some venues), should expect to be asked to produce an appropriate form of ID, and expect refusal if this is not provided. If you are underage and purchase alcohol, or are over 18 and purchase it for somebody under 18 you will face an £80 fine or prosecution".
He continued: "Underage drinking can have a huge impact on a local community. Not only can it lead to anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, but can put the health of underage drinkers at risk.

"I would respectfully ask parents not to allow their children to take alcohol from home and also to monitor their children closely when they are allowed to consume alcohol at home."

The police and Trading Standards are also warning that repeat and persistent offenders may have their licenses reviewed and possibly revoked using new powers under the Licensing Act.

*The second of the two illegal sales that took place on June 1 was made by Mr Bhatti, one of the owners of Nisa Local, Dickinson Quay, Apsley Lock in Hemel Hempstead. Mr Bhatti pleaded Not Guilty at Hemel Magistrates' Court on February 2 and a trial has been set for April 10, 2007.