Home >
News and Events
Redbridge takes a tougher stance on under-age sales
5 February 2010
Press Release
Number: PR840
Licensed premises that sell alcohol to under-age youths could
find themselves on the end of tougher powers that have just come
into force.
Previously the law said that the Council had to wait until
premises had three breaches of under-age selling conditions before
it could close them down for 48 hours and prosecute.
Now a change in the law, brought in by the Policing and Crime
Act 2009, means that shops, pubs and other licensed premises could
face these actions after two breaches. This came into
force on Friday 29 January.
The Council has worked in partnership with the Police and the
Police Cadets for a number of years to carry out test purchasing
across the Borough and protect younger residents.
This January the test purchasing team visited eight premises in
Redbridge and found two that sold alcohol to a child under
18. The staff that sold the alcohol were issued with £80
fixed penalty notices and the store’s managers and licensees have
been called in to discuss their licensing conditions and
responsibility to society. They have been advised that
further breaches will mean the loss of their licences.
The Council monitors and works with premises that breach these
conditions to ensure that future breaches do not occur. They
will be revisited by the test-purchasing team to ensure changes
have been made.
If successfully prosecuted businesses that breach these
conditions can find themselves with a fine of up to £10,000,
immediate 48-hour closure and a review that could see their
licences revoked.
The Council and Police will continue with this work to help make
the Borough a safer place to live.
Press and Media contact