Underage drinking sales falling but our work continues

15 April 2009

Alcohol sales to underage drinkers are falling in Harlow according to the latest test purchasing figures.
 
The test purchase failure rate for Harlow has reduced from over 30% to 11% in the last year and has exceeded the county wide target of 15%.
 
This is extremely good news for the ongoing efforts of Harlow Council’s Safety and Licensing Team who, in conjunction with the Council's Community Safety Team,   are working with both the Police and Essex County Council  Trading Standards to combat underage drinking. Harlow’s Community Alcohol Partnership has been established for a year and during that time has introduced a number of measures.
 
The work has included regular patrols targeting areas where young people are known to consume alcohol, introducing the challenge 21 policy where premises commit to asking for proof of age to people that look under 21, providing advice to premises, undertaking test purchasing exercises and raising awareness of underage drinking and its effects. 
 
In 2009/10 the partnership will continues it work to maintain the 11% failure rate and also step up its efforts to target people who buy alcohol for under 18s.
 
Peter Bourn, Harlow Council’s Safety & Licensing Manager, said: “This reduction is testament to the great work the Council, the Police and Essex County Council have been doing to combat underage drinking. Praise should also go the majority of premises who have made a great improvement. However, we will continue to undertake test purchasing and if necessary take action to ensure that the failure rate of 11% is maintained.
 
"As well as continuing the work we will also strongly target people who buy alcohol for children.  We will send a strong message to those people who are putting children’s health and well-being at risk.  Underage drinking can lead to anti-social behaviour and put the health and safety of children at risk so it’s important that organisations work together to tackle it.”
 
Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person under 18 is illegal and can result in an £80 on-the-spot fine and or a fine of up to £5,000 if it goes to court.