Test purchasers shouldn't lie, says LACORS

The body which advises councils on underage 'sting' operations has indicated that it will not be encouraging children to lie about their age.

Directors of LACORS, the local authority co-ordinating body, are due to meet at the end of February to discuss the issue, which was raised after Liverpool City Council announced its intention to allow children to lie during test purchasing in the city. But Derek Allen, the organisation's executive director, has already said that "we do not imagine" current guidelines urging children to tell the truth when asked will be changed.

"Any new LACORS code will need to be endorsed by our board of directors - and we do not anticipate that they would be willing to endorse any code which promotes children lying about their age," said Mr Allen.

LACORS guidelines on test purchasing are going out for consultation later next week, with the final document set to be agreed in the spring.

Announcing its intention to break the guidelines last month, Liverpool City Council told The Publican that the current advice from LACORS "did not replicate what goes on in the real world".

Meanwhile, the prospect of licensees being able to ask to see a national identity card as proof of age receded further last week, when the government's plans suffered another defeat in the House of Lords.

Peers voted 186 to 142 to reject plans to make the cards compulsory, before later voting 198 to 140 in favour of a Tory amendment requiring a separate act of Parliament before ID cards could be made compulsory.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Phillips of Sudbury said: "No one spoke in favour of compulsion during the debate, except for the minister.

"I hope this defeat will cause the government to think again about its flawed and expensive scheme."

The latest defeat for the government comes a week after peers blocked the ID cards bill, demanding the Home Office publish the full costs first. The bill will be sent back to MPs next month.