Underage stings trap fewer pubs
Early indications from the Tackling Underage Sales sting campaign show pubs are performing well.
Home Office statistics revealed that the failure rate on test purchase operations at targeted premises during the campaign is 19% so far.
Regional evidence suggests pubs are faring better than their off-trade counterparts.
Just one pub in Manchester failed the sting operation while trading standards across the whole of Lancashire did not catch out a single one.
"It appears licensees are heeding the warnings, but they need to relay the same message to their staff," said Admiral Taverns joint managing director Lynne D'Arcy. "There is a danger that people just working the odd four-hour shift on a Saturday night could let one slip through the net."
Meanwhile, in Hampshire 158 premises were visited with only three pubs failing, compared to 24 off-licences.
In the Thames Valley region, 27 out of 139 premises failed, although no split between on and off-trade was available.
Thames Valley's Inspector John Fox said: "Overall staff in our licensed premises are responsible and check people's age. However, there are a handful of licensed premises where individual staff members really let the trade down."
Inspector Alistair Nichols of Hampshire police added: "It is a tribute to the responsible retailers that the number of sales to under-18s has steadily declined.
"It is not only licensed premises that are being targeted as part of this joint campaign, but also the adults who go into shops and buy alcohol for under-18s."
The sting campaign is due to run until 15 July.
