Retail businesses across the borough are being warned not to sell age restricted products to under-age children, with the warning following the suspension of two alcohol licences
Two retailers in the borough have had their alcohol licences suspended for one month following a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing where evidence was presented that the alcohol had been sold to those under age in a test purchase operation. Separate Trading Standards test-purchase operations also showed that the Challenge 25 policy was not followed.
Following test purchases of alcohol by Bromley Trading Standards’ underage volunteers, both Johny’s of Croydon Road, Penge and Embas Local of Station Approach, Lower Sydenham received a one month suspension on selling alcohol. The council’s Licensing Sub-Committee also imposed a condition that both shops must have a Personal Licence Holder present at all times when the sale of alcohol resumes.
Councillor Bob Evans, Chairman of Licensing Sub-Committee said, “At the heart of the council’s licensing policies and indeed contained within the Licensing Act is the need to protect children from harm and therefore the committee needed to act with the utmost seriousness. We are hopeful that the retailers will reflect on this and take action to follow the law and help protect our children in this way.”
Councillor Angela Page, Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Enforcement said, “We do receive reports from time to time from residents who are concerned about the selling of alcohol to children and about the selling of other age-restricted items as well and we do follow up on these reports. We will continue to target retailers whom we suspect are ignoring the licensing legislation. It is important that all staff comply with the law or ultimately, the retailer could face enforcement action.”
The council’s trading standards team had previously provided guidance to the retailers about they can avoid selling alcohol to children, which routinely includes operating a ‘refusals’ book, training all staff and operating a ‘Challenge 25’ policy.
Reports from concerned members of the public about retailers can sent be sent in confidence to the council’s trading standards team.
Ends
Editor’s notes – The Licensing Sub-Committee met on Wednesday 22 June, where the committee heard that in April 2022, alcohol was purchased in Johny’s of Croydon Road, Penge, with the retailer previously being visited in October 2022 by trading standards officers and the police following concerns about under-age purchase.
The Licensing Sub Committee also head that alcohol was purchased from the Embas Local store in Lower Sydenham in April 2022 by an under-age volunteer, with the Challenge 25 policy being ignored in October 2021 when an 18 year volunteer also purchased alcohol. Guidance was shared with retailer in March 2021 about the licensing requirements surrounding the sale of alcohol.
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