Positive results in Brighton age checks

Sussex Police said its efforts to combat the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers in Brighton and Hove have yielded some positive results.

As part of its Operation Teepee, officers visited 12 premises on 21 October, with 11 passing the identification checks.

Licensing officers carry out checks across the city under the banner of Operation Teepee to ensure licence holders ask for proof of age from young customers.

One failed after a volunteer was served by a designated premises supervisor, who will now face prosecution under the Licensing Act 2003 for allowing the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18.

One of the premises that passed was a retest from a previous failure during the last round of checks in August.

“It is positive to see such a high proportion of premises pass the age tests, including previous failures who have taken on board the message from previous shortcomings,” Inspector Michelle Palmer-Harris said.

Officers also test shops’ Challenge 25 policy – the requirement to verify the age of customers who look younger than 25 – by using a 21-year-old volunteer posing as a customer. Premises in breach are not committing an offence, but will have breached the conditions of their premises licence.

Over the course of year, two premises failed Challenge 25 tests, issued licence breach warning letters and passed when retested.

Seven premises served volunteers under the age of 18. Five of these had conditions added to their licences, six were issued with formal warnings and met with licensing officers and one designated supervisor will be prosecuted.

“As a force we will continue to make sure vendors are sticking to the terms of their licences and engage, educate and enforce where necessary,” Palmer-Harris added.