Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards Department and Cumbria Police conducted a test purchase exercise on Friday 1 April. A young person was sent into fifteen off licences in Askam, Barrow, Dalton and Ulverston in an attempt to purchase alcoholic drinks and on each occasion the teenage volunteer was refused the request.
The latest exercise follows a similar initiative prior to Christmas last year when a young volunteer was unable to purchase alcohol from twelve premises visited.
Commenting on the results of the test purchase exercise Phil Ashcroft, Head of Trading Standards for Cumbria County Council said:
"I am encouraged that Furness off licences are taking a firm and clear stance when selling alcoholic drinks. Our advice to those selling alcohol is to request legitimate proof of age if unsure of a potential purchaser's age. If in any doubt refuse to make the sale. This applies to alcohol and other age restricted goods such as cigarettes and fireworks".
Inspector Geoff Steele from Cumbria Police added:
"We will, in cooperation with partner organisations, continue to use this tactic in off licenses, pubs and clubs across South Cumbria. We are again pleased that the owners and staff in off licenses are taking their obligations seriously".