Tackling underage drinking (From Watford Observer)

Tackling underage drinking

10:00am Wednesday 20th August 2008 in News

Local businesses have teamed up with Watford Borough Council, the police and Hertfordshire Trading Standards to tackle illegal alcohol sales.

Twelve off-licences from the Market Street and Whippendell Road area met at the Rising Sun in Ascot Road to form the latest in a series of Off-Watch schemes being put in place across the Borough.

Members will work to prevent customers who are already drunk from buying alcohol, and preventing "proxy" sales where customers who are over 18 years old try to buy alcohol, cigarettes and fireworks for those under 18. They agreed to sign up to a voluntary code of practice, including adopting the Challenge 21 scheme of asking customers buying alcohol who appear to be under 21 to produce identification showing they are over 18.

When the code of practise is implemented by all the shops in the area it will be declared a Responsible Drinks Retailing Area. The Off-Watch schemes will be supported by a commitment from the statutory agencies to help provide training, advice and practical assistance to prevent illegal alcohol sales from taking place.

This will include the launch of a Borough-wide proof of age card scheme by Hertfordshire Trading Standards in September, and a telephone system for businesses to alert each other to potential problems.

The proof of age scheme will be launched at a free business advice seminar on August 28 at the Town Hall, which all off-licences in the Borough are invited to attend.

Hertfordshire Trading Standards Operations and Developments Manager Mike MacGregor said: “Age Check was developed following consultation with shopkeepers and business. It offers documents such as training records for staff and a refusals log to record when an underage person has been refused. It is designed to be shown to all staff employed by businesses that sell any age-restricted goods. It promotes good practice such as adopting a challenge 21 policy for alcohol and tobacco sales.”

Councillor Keith Crout, Chair of Licensing at Watford Borough Council said: “We are encouraged by the interest and commitment shown by the invited businesses and together with the Police and Trading Standards will be actively supporting them in this initiative.

“These schemes are part of our plans to introduce at least five Responsible Alcohol Retailing Areas in the Borough before next April to prevent the small minority of irresponsible and illegal alcohol sales, and to help support local traders.”

Jeffrey Leib, Licensing Manager for Watford Borough Council, added: “It is hoped the scheme will provide added support for traders who often operate alone. Just as pubs can call upon support from neighbouring venues to warn of problem customers, now off-licences can telephone ahead. We will be supporting the traders to help them prevent sales to under-age people, people who buy alcohol from under-18s, or those buying alcohol who are already drunk.”

To book a place at next week's seminar, telephone Hertfordshire Trading Standards on 01727 813849 or email tradingstandards@hertscc.gov.uk.

For more information about Off-Watch, telephone Watford Borough Council’s licensing team on 01923 278503 or email licensing@watford.gov.uk.