New plans to crack down on underage drinking have been approved by Cumbria County Council's Cabinet.
A new system which will allow Trading Standards officers to hand out on-the-spot £80 fines to retailers selling alcohol to anyone under 18 has also been welcomed by Cumbria Constabulary.
Under the new plans, Trading Standards officers will be able to issue fixed penalty notices for the offence of selling alcohol to or buying alcohol for anyone under 18 - currently only the police have that power.
Trading Standards is responsible jointly with Cumbria Constabulary for enforcing the minimum age for the purchase of alcohol. The introduction of fixed penalty notices will be subject to agreement by the Chief Constable and a procedure agreed by the Head of Legal Services.
Acting Deputy Chief Constable for Cumbria Constabulary Graham Sunderland said:
"Cumbria Constabulary has worked with Trading Standards officers for the last few years to clamp down on the sale of alcohol to children. These new accreditation powers will allow us to be more effective in stopping illegal alcohol sales to the children of our county. This will ensure that the new offence of persistently selling alcohol to children is enforceable and we can bring those shopkeepers who insist on breaking the law to justice.
"Together we will take action against any premises found to be selling alcohol to those under-18. Under-age drinking is a form of anti-social behaviour which puts vulnerable young people in danger - it will not be tolerated.
"Operations targeting this issue are currently ongoing throughout the county as part of the Constabulary's Respect campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour. However this cannot be done by the Police alone, working alongside partners such as Trading Standards is the only way to stamp out these forms of anti-social behaviour."
ENDS
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