Crackdown on illegal alcohol sales - Rochdale retailers 'stung'

Youth drinking alcohol

A two-month sting operation across the North West caught nearly 400 retailers illegally selling alcohol to children.

Almost one in three of the 1,076 businesses tested by police and trading standards teams - 379 traders - broke the law in making underage sales. The figures in Rochdale were approaching one in two, out of 21 test purchases 9 local retailers made illegal sales.

Officials have since brought 56 prosecutions, issued 146 fixed penalty notices of up to £1,000 and served 68 cautions or warnings. A further 158 cases are still being worked on.

The businesses were caught out when trading standards officials recruited 14-16 year olds to try to buy alcohol while wearing hidden surveillance cameras and devices.

The action was part of an enforcement campaign on alcohol misuse (AMEC) launched by the North West's five police forces and 22 trading standards teams after research revealed that more than half of the region's 14-17 year olds illegally drink alcohol each week.

The survey of nearly 13,000 North West teenagers found that 40 per cent of underage drinkers claimed to buy their own alcohol - most often from off licenses, pubs and clubs.

The head of the North West Trading Standards underage sales strategy group, Tony Allen, said: "The message is clearly not getting through to some retailers - you cannot sell alcohol to young people under 18. It is irresponsible and illegal, and we are determined to bring appropriate sanctions to bear on those traders who flout the law.

"Because of the misery illegal underage drinking causes right across our communities it will continue to be a priority issue for police and trading standards teams. We are determined to crack down on this offence.  We will continue to carry out test purchases to ensure the law is being obeyed."

The regional Drug and Alcohol Strategy Manager at Government Office for the North West, Matt Henessey, said: "This campaign will have been a real wake up call to hundreds of traders right across the North West and a sent a clear message that those who have ignored the law on alcohol sales to young people - you will be caught and you will be prosecuted. These offences will not be tolerated."

The Government introduced penalties to help curb underage alcohol sales in April 2005.

Retailers face being fined up to £1,000 if caught selling alcohol to minors and having their alcohol license revoked. Young people caught drinking alcohol cold be issued with a fixed £50 fine.