Lancashire Police Cadets have again volunteered to assist with licencing visits test purchasing in a joint operation with South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire Police. Cadets have visited licensed premises and attempted to buy alcohol, on one occasion a Cadet successfully purchased a drink from the bar. The premises who failed to challenge the under age purchaser will now face proceedings because they also failed a test purchase in April. The person who served the drink has received a £90 fixed penalty notice and steps have been put in place by the premises concerned to have extra staff to monitor people accessing the bar.
What does the law say?
Alcohol consumption in the UK is governed by strict laws.
It is against the law:
- To sell alcohol to someone under 18 anywhere.
- For an adult to buy or attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of someone under 18. (Retailers can reserve the right to refuse the sale of alcohol to an adult if they’re accompanied by a child and think the alcohol is being bought for the child.)
- For someone under 18 to buy alcohol, attempt to buy alcohol or to be sold alcohol.
- For someone under 18 to drink alcohol in licensed premises, except where the child is 16 or 17 years old and accompanied by an adult. In this case it is legal for them to drink, but not buy, beer, wine and cider with a table meal.
- For an adult to buy alcohol for someone under 18 for consumption on licensed premises, except as above.
- To give children alcohol if they are under five.
It is not illegal:
- For someone over 18 to buy a child over 16 beer, wine or cider if they are eating a table meal together in licensed premises.
- For a child aged five to 17 to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises.
There is more information available on the law and consequences of underage drinking here.
Read about the previous test purchasing carried out by Police Cadets here.
Photo is for illustration only.