BBPA: trade comes out well in underage blitz

by Nigel Huddlestonand Tony Halstead

The on-trade's record on underage sales of alcohol has been defended by the British Beer & Pub Association in the wake of 78 pubs being caught serving under-18s during the current police crackdown.

The Home Office found that 51% of on-trade outlets targeted as part of a sting operation had been found to serve drink to under-18s. The off-trade fared better, with 29% being found in breach of the law.

But the BBPA said the figures had to be seen in the context of the small sample.

Spokesman Mark Hastings said: "Of the 153 pubs and nightclubs specially targeted to test for underage sales, 78 were found to be breaking the law. That equates to 0.13% of the nation's public houses."

The Home Office said that 5% of premises visited overall as part of the blitz were found to have committed an offence of some description. These included selling outside permitted hours, allowing proxy purchasing for minors, selling to someone who was intoxicated, and health and safety offences.

Around two-thirds of these licensees have been warned, cautioned or reported for summons by the police or local authority.

Hastings said: "The overwhelming evidence from this campaign is that the vast majority of the 60,000 pubs in the UK are law-abiding businesses, well-managed by responsible licensees and not committing any offences." But the trade came under fire from other directions.

Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Stephen Green said the figures on underage sales were "the most disturbing aspect" of the blitz.

"The police service is determined to bring the full weight of the law down on licensees who act in such an irresponsible manner," he said.

Richard Philips, acting chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "These figures throw into stark relief the terrible contribution of the alcohol industry to the nation's alcohol problem.

"Many pubs and off-licences are putting profits above their local communities and the well-being of children. We now know this is not a handful of rogue operators."

The Home Office said alcohol had been confiscated from 1,764 under-18s during the summer campaign which continues until the August Bank Holiday.

Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne criticised the sting operations.

He said: "It has now become clear those outlets chosen were not a representative sample with many selected because the police suspected there were already problems.

"You have to wonder if police suspected these pubs of serving underage why they had not taken action earlier."