
Four shops in Lancaster and Morecambe sold alcohol to underage children in a test purchase operation last weekend.
Members of the Police Licensing Team, working alongside Trading Standards, carried out an operation where plain clothes officers used an underage child entering premises to check they are not serving alcohol to people under 18.
It’s a requirement that licensed premises must ensure they are using the Check 25 scheme - anyone who looks 25 or under is asked for age check verification.
Over the two days, 21 off licenses were tested with four of them failing the test and selling alcohol to the underage child. Further action will be taken with the persons who made those sales and the four premises themselves.
PC Andrew Taylor from Lancaster Police Licensing said: ‘’Police Licensing, Trading Standards and partner agencies working together will continue to carry out various methods including test purchases to prevent any licensed premises from selling alcohol to underage children.
‘’It goes without saying the harm that can be caused to an underage child from drinking alcohol-children can also become vulnerable as a result of intoxication.’’