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Isle of Wight Police Licensing Sergeant Mark Voller
An undercover operation by Police and Trading Standards officers on the Isle of Wight has revealed pubs selling alcohol to a 15 year old.
Officers are warning of more test-purchase operations in the future and have described the results as 'disappointing'.
September: Police article for the Bay / South Wight Beacon
Isle of Wight Police Licensing Sergeant Mark Voller told Isle of Wight Radio:
''Police and IW Council Trading Standards Team officers carried out an alcohol test-purchase operation at licensed premises in the Sandown and Shanklin areas recently."
"The juvenile test-purchaser used on this occasion was aged 15. Two pubs in the Sandown area were visited and, in both cases, staff readily sold alcohol to our 15-year-old volunteer. This is disappointing as we expect staff to be extra-vigilant during this warm spell, with more customers being attracted to pubs."
"We have repeatedly advised licensees and staff to check customer ID before serving alcohol to young adults, but in neither case did staff make the necessary checks. The individuals responsible for the sale of alcohol to the juvenile have each been issued with a fixed penalty notice (£80) for the alleged offence."
"Police warn licensees that test-purchasing operations will continue. Licensees are reminded that they must ensure their staff are properly trained to check customer ID. We also request customers aged over 18, but of youthful appearance, to be ready to produce ID bearing their photograph, date of birth and a holographic mark each time they buy alcohol. In particular we recommend ID cards issued under the PASS scheme. It was reassuring that, of the three Shanklin off-licences visited on the same evening, all required ID from the juvenile then correctly refused the sale.''
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