14th December 2007, 07/439
Don't buy alcohol for underage people else we'll catch
you!
Off-licenses across West Lancashire are to be targeted in the
run-up to Christmas to put a stop to underage youngsters trying to
illegally buy alcohol.
Retailers in the area have an excellent track record of stopping
people under the legal age limit purchasing alcohol. But this time
of the year it is more likely that teenagers will try to use other
ways, such as getting older siblings, friends, strangers or even
parents to buy it for them.
So the West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership (WLCSP) is
working with other agencies including the Police, Trading
Standards, Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Lancashire
County Council to address this problem.
They are helping to launch an awareness campaign specifically
targeting the issue of alcohol proxy sales - where a person over
the age of 18 purchases alcohol on behalf of underage young
people.
Cllr David Westley, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, said:
"It is completely irresponsible for adults to purchase alcohol on
behalf of young people and it is a criminal offence! If caught,
people could face an £80 fixed penalty notice or the possibility of
being taken to court to face a maximum fine of £5,000. Therefore we
want to do all we can to raise awareness to members of the public
that they are breaking the law if they do this."
Retail premises will be visited throughout December by officers
from the District Council, Police Community Support Officers and
Community Beat Managers encouraging them to acknowledge the
initiative and to be on their guard at this time of year!
The campaign also runs alongside Lancashire Constabulary's
campaign, Operation Shepherd, a crime reduction and community
reassurance initiative to tackle and prevent alcohol-related crime
and anti social behaviour from now until 6th January.
Bill Taylor, Chairman of the WLCSP, said: "The health and social
consequences of buying alcohol for young people cannot be taking
lightly and I applaud all the agencies for working together to make
this initiative work. It is just one of the many campaigns we are
supporting in the run-up to Christmas to reduce crime and the fear
of crime and increase public safety."
Michael Porter, Crime and Disorder Coordinator for West Lancashire,
said: "In addition to the proxy sales awareness campaign our
Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be conducting high visibility
patrols to all alcohol retail outlets in West Lancashire during
Operation Shepherd; there will also be a significant increase in
covert policing activity in and around licensed premises."
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