Bromley Trading Standards has launched a drive to curb under-age sales of alcohol in partnership with Bromley Police and as part of a national campaign in the run up to the World Cup. The Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (AMEC) is a national project involving trading standards and police authorities up and down the country.
Cllr. George Taylor, Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Safety and Chair of the Safer Bromley Partnership and Cllr. Pauline Tunnicliffe went out with the Council’s trading standards team during a weekend test-purchasing session both to support the campaign and to reinforce the message that retailers must ensure they operate within the law.
“It’s important that retailers, pubs and clubs understand that we will not put up with excuses when it comes to selling alcohol to children,” said Cllr Taylor. “Quite apart from the harm it can cause to under-age drinkers, there is evidence that much crime and antisocial behaviour is fuelled by alcohol.”
Officers use under age volunteers to test purchase alcohol from off licences, supermarkets and pubs in the borough. Sellers caught selling alcohol to under-age customers will be liable to a fixed penalty notice of £80, and personal licence holders could be forced to face a Council committee and risk losing their licences or be prosecuted and fined up to £2000.
This is the second AMEC Bromley has been involved in, although trading standards carry out enforcement campaigns throughout the year. Last year, sales were made by 33 per cent of the establishments approached and included one retailer which was stripped of its alcohol licence for repeated sales to children.
People in the borough who suspect that a trader may be selling alcohol or other age restricted products to children can report them to Trading Standards by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The AMEC campaign links with the Safer Bromley Partnership’s Safe and Sound initiative which launches in Bromley Town Centre next week. The Partnership will be using posters, beer mats, t-shirts, post cards and advertising to get over the message that over indulging in alcohol and causing harassment, alarm or distress to others could result in prosecution.
- The Safer Bromley Partnership is committed to continuously improving safety in Bromley. We want a borough where people can live, work, play and learn safely. Our members include Bromley Council, Bromley Police, Health, Probation, Fire and London Ambulance Services, the Metropolitan Police Authority and Broomleigh Housing Association.
For media enquiries, please contact Susie Clark, Communications Officer, on 020 8461 7911, or email susie.clark@bromley.gov.uk
Further information is available at www.bromley.gov.uk