New plans to crack down on underage drinking are to be voted on at a meeting of Cumbria County Council's Cabinet in Carlisle next week.
A recommendation to authorise the Head of Trading Standards to put in place a system of fixed penalty notices has been put forward. It would mean Trading Standards officers could issue fixed penalty notices of £80 for the offence of selling alcohol to or buying alcohol for anyone under 18. Currently only police officers have that power; Trading Standards officers can only deal with offenders by caution or prosecution.
Trading Standards is responsible jointly with Cumbria Constabulary for enforcing the minimum age for the purchase of alcohol. The proposal to introduce fixed penalty notices would be subject to agreement by the Chief Constable and a procedure agreed by the Head of Legal Services.
Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria's Trading Standards, said:
"Giving Trading Standards officers the power to issue on-the-spot fines brings benefits all round. It would streamline procedures, cut costs and allow low-paid bar staff and shop workers to take the penalty, but avoid the stigma of a court appearance."
This week Trading Standards issued new figures on underage drinking in the North West. A survey of over 11,000 teenagers aged 14 to 17 revealed 44% drink alcohol at least once a week - this is 6% lower than the region's 2005 survey, but still proves underage drinking is engrained in teen culture. The survey also revealed 28% of 14 to 17 year olds claimed to buy their own alcohol (compared with 40% in 2005) and 62% had been challenged for ID when attempting to buy alcohol from off licences.
Elizabeth Barraclough, Cabinet member responsible for public protection, said:
"These latest figures for the North West prove that the work carried out by Trading Standards and the police is having a positive impact. But we still have a long way to go in changing the youth culture which seems to encourage and embed the illegal drinking of alcohol. We need to make sure that the enforcement system runs as smoothly as possible and Trading Standards officers can spend less time bogged down in the legal procedures and more time out in the streets catching and fining offenders."
Notes
A copy of the Cabinet report is available online at http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/CouncilMeetings/Content/Public/2941/39259102656.pdf -(see the link below)
Anyone receiving a fixed penalty notice has a standard 21-day period to appeal against it.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 606332
Follow this link to view a copy of the Cabinet report