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Two Horncastle pubs have been issued with an £80 fixed penalty after serving alcohol to 16-year-old volunteers for Linolnshire Police.
The Black Swan, South Street, and the Ship Inn, Bull Ring, served alcohol to the female volunteers on Friday February 1 and have each been fined.
Officers from Lincolnshire Police HQ Licensing, Special Constabulary and Lincolnshire Trading Standard conducted the operation.
The Kings Head, Bull Ring and The Punch House, High Street, both refused sales to the three volunteers.
The premises that refused sales are informed by letter from Trading Standards.
The Licence Holders of the premises selling to underage citizens will be invited to a meeting with Police Licensing and Trading Standards officers to discuss the sales and will be advised how to prevent further such sales.
They will then be retested and any sales will lead to a police review of that premises licence at a local Licensing Authority and also prosecution for persistent selling of alcohol to children under section 147a of the Licensing Act 2003.
Sue Skinner, Landlord of the King’s Head, said: “We’re very strict here, if they haven’t got ID we don’t serve them alcohol.
“They can buy soft drinks all they like, but not alcohol.
“It’s my licence and part of my business.
“If they don’t look older than 25 we ask them.
“Even regulars who are 26, they always say that I know how old they are but I tell them I have to make sure.”
Sue added that her premises takes a no tolerance approach to people buying for underage drinkers.
“I saw someone come to the bar once who bought some alcohol for another person I knew was underage so we slung them out,” she continued.
“It’s my business that’s on the line at the end of the day.”
Under the Licensing Act 2003 the maximum penalty on conviction to anyone who sells alcohol to an individual under the age of 18 is £5,000 and possible removal of licence.
Inspector Rod Rose ,of Lincolnshire, Police said: “Licence holders have a responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 18 are not able to purchase or consume alcohol in their premises.
“There are very real dangers when these youngsters drink alcohol as they often become victims of crime.
“They are also more likely to commit criminal offences as they do not have the maturity that adults do.”
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Friday 24 May 2013
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