NINE businesses sold alcohol to underage teenagers in test sales which were conducted in Brighton and Hove over the past year, according to an official report.

Seven off-licences failed test purchases.

They were organised by Sussex Police and the Brighton and Hove City Council trading standards team from May to August.

The other two premises were described as “on-sales” businesses in a report to the council’s Licensing Committee which will be presented today.

The nine failed test purchases accounted for more than a quarter of the 35 businesses which were visited.

The staff who made the illegal sales were each given a £90 fine.

The licence holders and premises supervisors were also summoned to attend a meeting with Sussex Police to discuss the breaches.

Members of the council’s licensing team also worked with the Gambling Commission to test whether children under 18 were allowed to play gaming machines in pubs.

The report said that 70 per cent failed to prevent children from playing on the machines.

The results in Brighton and Hove were, however, better than the national average, which saw 90 per cent of pubs across the country failing the test.

The report is due to be considered by the council’s Licensing Committee at Hove Town Hall today.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 3pm and should be open to the public.