It's war on under-aged: Blears

The Government has declared war on under-age drinking after the Christmas blitz revealed that almost one-third of targeted licensed premises were still serving under-18s.

Police and Trading Standards officers carried out 989 sting operations during the 12-day campaign and found that 32% of on-trade and 32% of off-trade premises were selling booze to under-18s.

Police also issued 72 fixedpenalty notices for under-age drink offences and confiscated alcohol on 1,560 occasions from under-18s.

In a bid to reverse this trend, the Government has proposed extending fixed-penalty notices to cover young people attempting to buy alcohol in licensed premises as well as giving police the power to close pubs and off-licences persistently serving under-18s for a 24-hour period.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said: "There are many responsible pub and club operators, but there is more to be done if we are to achieve a fundamental change in attitude so that binge and under-age drinking are no longer regarded as socially acceptable."

The Government's decision to press ahead with proposals to close premises persistently serving under-18s for a 24-hour period, originally announced in December, is still viewed with some suspicion by many in the trade. Fears remain that the punishment does not fit the crime.

"It's worth remembering that the powers the police already have are much tougher than those proposed," said British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Mark Hastings.

"All offenders can be prosecuted and repeat offenders can lose their licence."

Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, warned that there would be no advance publicity for the next blitz.