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Supermarket handed three-day booze ban
9:29am Monday 8th September 2008
A supermarket has been handed a three-day booze ban after it was caught selling alcohol to children.
The Somerfield store in Queens Parade, North Lancing, will have its drinks license suspended from September 25 until September 29.
The move comes after three 16-year-olds were sold alcohol during a test purchase operation run by Sussex Police in March and May.
Licensing officers asked Adur District Council to review the store’s drinks license after the operation.
Councillors handed out the three-day ban on the branch at a licensing committee meeting.
Police told the committee their attempts to keep children safe had been seriously undermined by staff at the store breaking licensing laws.
A report to the committee told how two 16-year-old girls bought alcohol there and that the person who sold it to them was later fined £80.
Store bosses received a warning but in a follow-up test purchase operation a third 16-year-old girl brought drink from the store unchallenged.
The branch’s manager, regional manager and designated premises supervisor all attended a meeting at Shoreham police station about the problem.
They gave assurances that the problem was being dealt with and check-outs being manned by under-age staff were being phased out.
The committee ordered Somerfield staff to demand proof of age from any customers who appear to be under 21 before they are sold alcohol.
A personal license holder will have to be on duty at the store from 5pm until closing time.
The chain has now changed its policy of challenging anyone who looks under 21 to prove their age and raised it to 25.
Your Say YourArgus
NoWay, Brighton says...
10:20am Mon 8 Sep 08
If they have no punishment, all they see is a shop being "told off" for what THEY have done! There is no incentive for these kids to stop. THey need to take some responsibility and be cautioned at least!
Charismatic Andrew, Patcham says...
11:04am Mon 8 Sep 08
NoWay wrote:Given that these kids were taking part in a "test purchase operation run by Sussex Police" I think it would be a tad harsh punish them.
So now what will happen to the kids who bought the alcohol? It's illegal to BUY it as well as SELL it.If they have no punishment, all they see is a shop being "told off" for what THEY have done! There is no incentive for these kids to stop. THey need to take some responsibility and be cautioned at least!
I'm not sure Sussex Police will get too many more volunteers stepping forward to help them if they then caution them afterwards.
whatithink, Brighton says...
12:44pm Mon 8 Sep 08
NoWay, Brighton says...
12:54pm Mon 8 Sep 08
Charismatic Andrew wrote:You know what I mean... You see the kids who AREN'T part of a test getting their beer confiscated, a telling off, asked where they bought it, then the shop gets shut for a week.
NoWay wrote:
So now what will happen to the kids who bought the alcohol? It's illegal to BUY it as well as SELL it.If they have no punishment, all they see is a shop being "told off" for what THEY have done! There is no incentive for these kids to stop. THey need to take some responsibility and be cautioned at least!Given that these kids were taking part in a "test purchase operation run by Sussex Police" I think it would be a tad harsh punish them.
I'm not sure Sussex Police will get too many more volunteers stepping forward to help them if they then caution them afterwards.
Hardly fair, is it?
blockhead, brighton says...
1:04pm Mon 8 Sep 08
better idea, get a copy of the branch's turnover on booze and fine them 3 months worth, spend it on rehabilitation and drink awareness in schools,
Angela Brighton, Brighton & Hove says...
5:13pm Mon 8 Sep 08
blockhead wrote:Very good idea
nice of the councillors to inconvenience shoppers, better idea, get a copy of the branch's turnover on booze and fine them 3 months worth, spend it on rehabilitation and drink awareness in schools,
bug eye, hove says...
8:45pm Mon 8 Sep 08
chris elmes, shoreham by sea says...
8:07am Wed 10 Sep 08
QUIS CUSTODE IPSO CUSTODES
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jakiB, Sompting says...
9:44am Mon 8 Sep 08
Now, if they can do the same for garages selling petrol in the area to under 16s, we wouldn't have to put up with so many underage idiots riding motorbikes with no lights, helmets etc.