Police 'shocked' at high proportion of off-licences selling to under-18s

Police in Leicester say they are shocked that, despite reminders, so many off-licences in the city persist in selling alcohol to under-age customers. In a recent 'sting' in the city centre, six shops sold to a 15-year-old shopper working under police supervision.

Pc Jon Webb, of city police's violence and disorder team, said: "It genuinely shocked officers that so many off-licences in the city centre were willing to sell alcohol to the underage youngster without asking for identification at a time when they should have been on alert due to it being the school holidays. It was also bitterly disappointing as we have been doing so much work with licensees to remind them of their responsibilities and warn them of the consequences of supplying alcohol to children."

In each case the shop assistants failed to ask for identification and were ready to go ahead with the sale. They were each ordered to pay an £80 fine. The owners or licensees have all been warned that further breaches of the law could result in their licences being taken away.

Read the rest of this item from the Leicester Mercury here