Two Ludlow pubs fined following test purchase operation
Two pubs in Ludlow have been fined after selling alcohol to an underage “customer” during a test purchase operation carried out by police and trading standards.
The operation is the latest in Shropshire to be funded through the West Mercia Police Authority community fund.
And the failure of two licensed premises in Ludlow prompted a stark warning from the county’s police licensing officer Tony Mantle, that pubs could face closure if they repeatedly flout the law.
He said: “It disappoints me when Shropshire Council has put so much time and effort into educating licensed operators in the Ludlow area about their responsibilities, that they should sell alcohol to under age people without challenge.
“Let me make it abundantly clear, if a premise fails twice in a 12-week period, the police will not only issue fixed penalty notices. We will also enforce a 48-hour closure and seek a review of the premise licence.”
Mr Mantle praised the Police Authority for funding further joint test purchase operations in the county, allowing the supervised use of teenagers under 18 to enter licensed premises testing the willingness of pubs to sell alcohol to juveniles.
At the end of February, five premises in Ludlow were tested with two failing after selling alcohol to 16-year-old volunteers. The offenders were issued with £80 fixed penalty notices and their employers given warning letters about future conduct.
A follow-up operation was conducted in the town on March 25 when the two pubs who previously failed, passed the test by refusing to sell alcohol to 17-year-old volunteers. However, two other premises failed and were issued with on the spot £80 fines.
Mr Mantle said councils have the authority to revoke premise licences for persistent infringements. During the Ludlow Community Alcohol Project, which ran between last July and January this year, all licensed trade operators in the town were given the opportunity to receive training and advice in responsible alcohol retailing, particularly with respect to the Challenge 25 policy.
He added: “It is imperative that traders robustly adhere to Challenge 25 as the risks financially and in terms of future business viability, are very high.”
Chief Inspector Martin Whitelegg said the Police Authority funding for test operations had supported front-line initiatives run by the police working with Trading Standards to help tackle underage drinking.
