Prosecution threat for businesses selling alcohol to under age children

TWO businesses could face prosecution after they were caught selling alcohol to under age children.

Volunteers aged 17 were used by the council in a test purchase operation to try and buy alcohol from 19 licensed premises across the borough. Rochdale council’s trading standards team said the underage volunteers were able to buy alcohol from two of the tested premises despite being under 18.

Both of the businesses who completed the illegal sales failed to ask for ID.

Council bosses said full investigations will now be conducted into both premises and ‘appropriate action will be taken.’

This could mean they receive warnings, cautions, prosecutions or licence reviews, depending on their previous history and other intelligence.

The names of the businesses have not been released by the council.

Councillor Sara Rowbotham, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Underage drinking is an issue we take very seriously as it puts the health, wellbeing and safety of the borough’s young people at risk.

“The irresponsible sale of alcohol to underage children is unacceptable and it’s great to see the team taking action against those who break the law.”

The test purchasing operation was part of a council crackdown on underage sales during the Greater Manchester safe4summer campaign which promotes activities for young people and tackles antisocial behaviour.

Some of the premises were chosen for testing following allegations of underage sales or because they had previously conducted underage sales, the council said.

For more information about the safe4summer campaign visit www. safe4summer.co.uk.