A managing director of a local convenience store business is supporting the Isle of Wight Council’s trading standards service by warning traders of the consequences of selling alcohol to underage customers.
Shop owners who sell alcohol to underage customers could face a fine up to £20,000 as well as lose their license or be barred from selling alcohol for a set period. Buying alcohol to give to under 18s is also a criminal offence and carries a fine up to £5000 even if it is for a friend or relative.
Wishing to remain anonymous, the shop owner got an unwelcome phone call in 2011 during which he was told one of his shop assistants had been caught unwittingly selling alcohol to underage customers. It resulted in a fine and his shop being banned from selling alcohol for a set period.
The owner said:
“We do our best not to sell alcohol to young people and our policy is to ask for proof of age if you look under 25. We provide regular training for staff, however on one occasion we made a mistake and were correctly punished.
“Not only was the member of staff fined, we lost significant trade as we were banned from selling alcohol during a busy period. We also suffered the embarrassment of telling regular customers that we could not sell them any wines or beers and many of our customers went elsewhere to buy all the other things they wanted too.
“My message to anyone underage who is thinking of buying alcohol is think about the consequences, not only for you but for the shop as well. The staff member may face a heavy fine or lose their job, you will be breaking the law and there is the possibility that the store might one day lose its licence and have to close.
“Many people rely on their local store to be open all hours so that they can buy the items they need, and the shop workers need their jobs. Remember that the next time you are asked for proof of age, do not be unpleasant to the shop staff, they are only doing their job.”
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Phil Jordan, Executive member for public protection, added:
“With the school holidays starting soon, some young people may be tempted to try to obtain alcohol and shops could see an increase in young people trying to buy alcoholic drinks.
“It is very important young people understand that underage drinking is a criminal offence and is something that carries consequences, especially for their health.”
