07 Dec 2007


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“Sweet Sixteen” T-shirt no deterrent to under-age booze sellers

Independent

under-age sale

alcohol

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Shops sold alcohol to two teenagers despite them wearing T-shirts spelling out the fact that they were underage.

In a recent operation by police and trading standards in Brighton, test purchases were carried out at 19 shops and off licences by two police cadets aged 16 and 17.

The aim was to see how much notice shop staff take of the people they are serving

The girl wore a T shirt bearing the logo “Sweet Sixteen – challenge me” while the boy’s said “Underage – challenge me”.

Despite this, eight stores were about to serve the youngsters until officers intervened, a failure rate of 42%.

Work is now going on with businesses to ensure all staff are aware of the law and more test purchases are planned, said the council.

Councillor Dee Simson, chairman of Brighton & Hove City Council's licensing committee, said: "We are making it clear that we will not tolerate stores selling alcohol to young people who are underage. Businesses and their staff have a responsibility to check the age of customers trying to buy drink and we will not hesitate to take action against those premises which disregard the law."

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