UK: Ministers condemn under-age alcohol sales

Too many pubs and supermarkets are illegally selling alcohol to under-18s, the government has said. Figures from the fourth alcohol misuse enforcement campaign show that nearly one in three minors taking part in trading standards operations were able to buy alcohol in bars and pubs, ePolitix released October 12. And one in five were able to buy alcohol in off-licences.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said he was "disappointed" with the latest findings.

During the period from May 8 to June 8 this year, under-18s working with trading standards operations were able to buy alcohol in 26 per cent of attempts at Kwiksave, 20 per cent of attempts at Sainsbury, 18 per cent at Tesco and 12 per cent at Waitrose.

In pubs, the failure rate was even higher. Figures showed that under-age drinkers were served 44 per cent of times at Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises and 23 per cent at JD Wetherspoon.

There were also significant regional variations, with on-licence premises in Wales selling alcohol to 48 per cent of young people in test purchases, while those in the North East sold to 18 per cent.

"The problem of alcohol fuelled crime and disorder is an issue of major public concern and we are all responsible for tackling it," said Coaker.

"We have given police new powers, such as fixed penalty notices, to deal with alcohol related disorder.

"However the licensed trade need to build on the real progress they have made to drive down sales to young people even further.

"I am heartened by the industry's assurances that they are committed to achieving this but I have made it clear to them that we expect to see real improvements in their performance.

"I will continue to monitor the situation to ensure this happens."

Licensing minister Shaun Woodward added that the situation is "not acceptable".

Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said the industry was "fully committed to working closely with the government to reduce underage sales".

"Progress has been made in bringing down test purchase failures from 45 per cent to 29 per cent since summer 2005," he said.

"However, we recognise that more needs to be done. Companies are tackling these issues head on, by developing new and innovative ways of ensuring managers, licensees, bar staff and the public are aware of our determination to tackle underage sales."

Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "These figures show why the government was wrong to simply unleash 24-hour drinking on our town and city centres.

"They should have answered our calls to pilot the scheme so that its consequences could be fully appreciated and so that it could then be sensibly applied."

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