Farncombe store sells alcohol to underage customer

A licensed premises in Farncombe sold alcohol to an underage customer without asking for ID during a test purchase operation on Friday (25 June).

 

 

 

The operation, which was run by the Waverley Neighbourhood Team, tested seven licensed premises across the borough.

The premises which failed the test, the Co-Op store in St John’s Street, sold alcohol to the 15-year-old test purchaser without challenging them or asking for any identification during the transaction.

The sales assistant was dealt with of a community resolution and the premises will receive assistance from the area’s Police Licensing Enforcement Officer to prevent any further breaches of the Licensing Act.

Waverley Licensing Officer Rab Carnie said: “We work very closely with the licensing trade but when we receive information or concerns from the community that standards at a premises are not being maintained, we will seek to carry out test purchase operations with our colleagues from Waverley Borough Council.

“It is proven that the misuse of alcohol can cause anti-social behaviour in young people and businesses that have a licence to sell alcohol have a responsibility to ensure that the conditions of that licence and the law are upheld.”

Waverley’s Borough Commander Inspector Sam Adcock said: “It is the responsibility of the licence holder to ensure that everyone working for them follows the law. This operation was part of our ongoing commitment to prevent alcohol being sold to young people under the age of 18. I encourage members of the public to report incidents where they see alcohol being sold to young people under 18 so we can carry out further investigation.”