More than 40 off-licences, shops and pubs are facing reviews of their licences to sell alcohol – as a result of the new Licensing Act. The reviews follow an operation of intelligence led test purchasing.

The operation was carried out by police and Trading Standards over three weeks in 27 areas across England and Wales. It targeted premises which had previously failed test purchases or had been identified through local intelligence.

The results, published today, reveal that out of a total of 224 premises, tested twice in the first two weeks of the campaign, 53 per cent successfully challenged the sale on both occasions.

However, as a result of this campaign and previous test purchase activity, 42 premises were found to fail two or more test purchases. They will now be subject to a licence review by their local authority which could result in their licence conditions being changed.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:

“The Government is committed to tackling alcohol abuse in all its forms whether challenging attitudes to binge drinking or cracking down on the underage sale of alcoholic drinks.

”Enforcement campaigns carried out by the police and trading standards are a key strand of our work to stop the illegal sale of alcohol to under-18s and build on the progress made in previous Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns.

“I recognise the work undertaken by the drinks industry to tackle underage sales, but the fact that 42 premises are going to licence review shows that there is still more to do. Police and Trading Standards will continue to carry out further enforcement activity to identify and deal with those retailers that continue to break the law.”

Licensing Minister at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Shaun Woodward said:
“The new powers in the Licensing Act are essential to dealing with illegal sales of alcohol. These figures show that the Licensing Act is being used by police and Trading Standards to tackle alcohol abuse.
“The licence review mechanism now provides a system for those who do not meet their obligations to change or risk losing their licence.
“We are pleased that most outlets selling alcohol are fully meeting their legal requirements.”
Mike Craik, ACPO lead on alcohol issues and Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, said:

“Police forces will continue to work with Trading Standards and local authorities to highlight where problems of underage alcohol sales exist. Action will be taken against the 42 premises who have failed the test purchases, which will help the rest of us continue responsible drinking without fear of any socialising being ruined by drunken young people.

 “The law cannot and will not be flouted by irresponsible retailers and this campaign shows the robust stance that police forces across the country are taking to reduce alcohol related disorder. This type of activity will be adopted into mainstream policing to help increase public confidence and trust in the police’s ability to tackle this issue.”

 

 

Notes to Editors

1. The Tackling Underage Sales of Alcohol campaign ran from 9 October to 29 October 2006.  27 Basic Command Units (policing areas) within 16 police forces in England and Wales took part in the campaign.  They were Devon and Cornwall, Essex, Greater Manchester,  Lancashire, Merseyside, Metropolitan, North Wales, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, South Yorkshire, South Wales, Suffolk, Sussex, Thames Valley, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
2. The Police and Crime Standards Directorate of the Home Office instigated and provided funding for the campaign.
3. Where possible, each premises was tested in week 1 and again in week 2.  During week 1, feedback was generally given to the premises irrespective of the result.  Premises which successful challenged the young person in the first two weeks were generally not tested again in week 3.
4. As a result of this campaign and previous enforcement activity, 42 premises will be subject to licence review applications.
5. This stage of the operation (notifications and applications for licence reviews) commenced on 6 November.
   • empowering the police, residents and others to seek a review of licences, and providing licensing committees with the opportunity to impose an extended range of measures which impact on businesses and their profits including limiting opening hours;
   • increased fines - as well as the potential suspension for up to six months or forfeiture of personal licences, following conviction for offences of allowing disorderly conduct or sales of alcohol to people who are drunk;
   • increased penalties for breach of licence conditions -  a person faces a maximum fine of £20,000 or imprisonment for up to six months or both; 
   • increased penalties for selling alcohol to children (up to £5000) and make it possible for courts to suspend or forfeit personal licences at first offence and not only on second conviction as now; and
   • Trading Standards Officers can conduct test purchases at licensed premises;
     • prohibit anti-social drinking in areas where there has been a history of alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour through the creation of a Designated Public Places Order;
     • Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 enables the police, working with local authorities to target action in problem areas and disperse groups; and
     • Anti Social Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts can be used to target particular trouble makers.
       •  as a last resort introduce Alcohol Disorder Zones which will require licensed premises to contribute to the cost of alcohol-related crime and disorder in specific areas where it has been identified as a problem;
       •  exclude individuals responsible for alcohol-related disorder from entering licensed premises by imposing “Drinking Banning Orders” which could run for up to two years;
       • enable the police to offer a premises the option to stop the sale of alcohol from licensed premises for up to 48 hours for repeatedly selling alcohol to under 18s rather than face prosecution; and
       •  provide police with the power to exclude individuals at risk of carrying out alcohol-related crime and disorder from a specific area for up to 48 hours.
          

 
Results:

List of premises for which an application will be made for a licence review

1.   Awan Food Store 5 Mill Hill Bridge Street, Blackburn BB2 2QY
2.   Bargain Booze 19 Longridge Ave, Saltdean, Brighton BN2 8LG
3.   Bargain Booze (franchise terminated on 22/10/06 and no longer trading)
 24 Augusta Steet, Llandudno LL30 2AD
4.   Birkdale Wines 5 Upper Aughton Road, Southport PR8 5NA
5.   Booze Busters 108 Vale Street, Denbigh LL16 3BS
6.   Budgens 76-81 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3XE
7.   Budgens Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield 
8.   Century Food & Wine 71 Plumstead Common Rd, Southwark SE18
9.   Costcutter 7-9 Queens Road, Formby L37 2HF
10.   Darbeys 135 Wellington Road, Rhyl LL18 1LE
11.   Freshway 162 Rufford Road, Southport PR9 8HU
12.   Kwik Save Miller Road, Ribbleton, Preston PR2 6NH
13.   Londis 140 Northern Avenue, Sheffield 
14.   Mace Aquarium Street, Rhyl 
15.   Maloney's 12 Waterloo Street, St.Helens WA10 1PX
16.   Megasave 46 Heol Llan, North Cornelly, Bridgend CF33 4DP
17.   Morgans Off Licence 254 Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn BB2 4QL
18.   Newton Hill Stores, Outwood, Wakefield WF1 2HZ
19.   Off Licence 1 East Dulwich Road, Greenwich SE22 9BA
20.   Payless Food & Wine 174 Jamaica Road, Southwark SE16 4RT
21.   Quix 20 Wern Crescent, Mochdre LL28 5AL
22.   S G & N Limbachia 66 Watery Lane, Preston PR2 1AX
23.   Select And Save Islington Row, Birmingham B15 1LA
24.   Select And Save Hill Street, Birmingham B5 4AH
25.   Simply Drinks Mount Road, St. Asaph LL17 0DB
26.   Smile 91-92 St. Mary Street, Cardiff City Centre CF10 1DX
27.   Somerfield 119-131 London Road, Brighton BN1 4JH
28.   Somerfield Ham Road, Shoreham BN43 6PA
29.   Spar 1a Portland Road, Langho, Nr Blackburn BB6 8EZ
30.   Spar Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2JF
31.   Spar 163, Accrington Road, Burnley BB11 5AL
32.   Spar 89 Victoria Road, Prestatyn LL19 7UT
33.   Spar 197 Kent Street, Preston PR1 1PH
34.   Spar 63 Haresfinch View, St.Helens WA11 9LQ
35.   Star News Warstone Lane, Hockley, Birmingham 
36.   Tap and Spile Gas Street, Birmingham B1 2JT
37.   Tesco Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TP
38.   Tesco Express 2 – 2A Broadwater Road, Worthing BN11  3EF
39.   Tesco Express 86 Downland Drive, Southgate RH11 8SW
40.   The Grove 48 Church St, Blackburn BB1 5AL
41.   The Horse And Lion 1 Samuel Road, Norfolk Park, Sheffield 
42.   Threshers 5 Kings Parade, Brighton