Premises licences at risk in Avon & Somerset

Police in Avon & Somerset have issued an exasperated-sounding warning to premises licence holders in the area. This follows the disappointing results of a round of test purchases to catch those selling alcohol to under 18's.

The figures don't make for pretty reading:

• Of 36 on-licensed premises (excuse the sloppy terminology - you know what I mean) 67% failed.
• Of 38 off-licences checked 39% failed the test.

Which is funny, because I keep hearing a lot of blame being thrown in the direction of the off-trade for this sort of thing. Childish 'on' vs 'off' name-calling is one of my little bugbears - it's blinkered thinking of the worst kind. The point is that there seem to be a significant number of licensed premises in the Somerset & Avon area that need to clean their acts up, especially with the police being given more and more enforcement powers under recent legislation.

Superintendant Gary Davies summed up the police's position on this saying "With continually disappointing results like these we are going to have to consider revoking the licenses of certain premises. I urge licensees to respond to our plea to improve standards. We want to work with the licensing trade but with these results tougher enforcement is becoming the only option."

Letters have gone out to all licensed premises in the area to inform everyone of the police's hardening attitude.

Full story on the Avon & Somerset Constabulary website - here.

Photo by Andy Welsh via Flickr.


Technorati Tags: premises licence, avon and somerset, police, licensing, alcohol, entertainment, enforcement, test purchase, under-age drinking

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