Test purchasers told to tell lies

Pressure is being ramped up on pubs to ensure they ask for ID as local authorities bring a new focus on underage sales in 2006.

Liverpool City Council has become the first local authority in the country to break guidelines by allowing under-18s to lie about their age during test purchases. Other councils are now expected to follow suit.

Licensees are being reminded to check the ID of all younger customers and only accept a card carrying a PASS hologram, passport or photo driving licence or face losing their licence.

Local authority co-ordinating body LACORS' code of conduct on test purchasing is now being reviewed following Liverpool's move, and a new set of guidelines could be published within the next couple of months.

Allan Auty, trading standards manager for Liverpool City Council, told The Publican the council had decided to go it alone as LACORS' guidelines "did not replicate what goes on in the real world".

"If you want to buy alcohol you need to produce ID," he said. "More people will have to start carrying it. The more the trade demands identification the more people will carry it."

Mr Auty added that the council was only targeting problem pubs.

Mark Hastings, communications director of the British Beer & Pub Association, said all authorities should stick to the current guidance. "The guidelines are clear and state that people should not lie when confronted about their age," he said. "But we all, as a trade, need to ensure we are asking for proof-of-age."

Mrs Simmonds, licensee of the Thatched House in Wavertree, Liverpool, said: "I didn't know the children they use were allowed to lie. If I'm unsure of age I ask for ID. If they don't produce it I don't serve them."

Tony Payne, chief executive of Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "I think it's wrong encouraging young people to lie, but if a licensee is in doubt you should ask for ID."

Robert Humphreys, chairman of the PASS logo scheme, is interested to hear the views of licensees on test purchasing. Please get in touch with him via email at uhzcuerlfe@cneyvnzrag.hx​.