Middlesbrough off Licence fined for underage sales
A Middlesbrough off licence owner has been fined £75 with costs of £200 and a £15 victim surcharge for serving underage teens. Max Roxby was fined after a shop assistant working at his off licence on West Lane served two 15-year-old boys a bottle of Bellabrusco without asking for proof of age. The teenagers were working as volunteers for Middlesbrough Council’s Trading Standards department.
An executive member for community protection, Julia Roston, has said: “it is increasingly important to enforce the Licensing Act 2003 as there is a clear connection between intoxicated youths and disorder that can blight a neighbourhood”.
Concerned residents can call 01642 728281 if they have worries about any shop or off licence in the Middlesbrough area selling age restricted products, including alcohol. Calls will be directed to Middlesbrough Trading Standards.
Alcohollicence.org has issued a warning to independent retailers to adopt a challenge 25 age verification policy to help avoid sales of alcohol from off licence premises to underage teenagers. Their website sponsors, Personal Licence Training Limited, have been training independent shop keepers and their staff on acceptable forms of identification and the challenge 25 policy for the last few years in a bid to reduce underage drinking in the UK . Retailers who have concerns about their staff’s competence can send them on a licensing law training course for the Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) Level 2.
A spokesperson for Personal Licence Training Limited said: “retailers need to be aware they could face a fine of up to £5,000 and loss of their personal licence. Furthermore, they could face a premises licence review before the licensing committee. A licensing committee has the power to revoke a premises licence or suspend the licence good staff training can help avoid this.”
Retailers can book courses in Middlesbrough online at www.personallicence.com or they can call Personal Licence Training Limited on 0845 388 9581.
About the Author
Dean Carr Dean has been involved in alcohol licensing for over 20 years and has helped many independent retailers and corporate clients obtain a licence to sell alcohol or offer late night refreshment, regulated entertainment from all sorts of premises. Dean writes articles for various trade related blogs and is currently Managing Director of the PLT group of companies who run APLH and SCPLH personal alcohol licence courses nationwide. You can contact Dean or a member of his expert licensing team on: 01242 222 188
