News from Peterborough City Council

A shopkeeper was fined a total of £815 by Peterborough magistrates yesterday (Thursday 28 August 2008) after selling alcohol to an underage volunteer in a test purchase operation involving Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

 

Dangira Jankauskaite was the premises licence holder and the designated premises supervisor at Smilte, Westgate, Peterborough, on 7 March 2008 when a member of staff sold a bottle of vodka to an underage volunteer without questioning their age.

 

Although Jankauskaite did not sell the alcohol, she was responsible for authorising each sale of alcohol on the premises under the Licensing Act 2003.

 

Jankauskaite pleaded guilty to selling alcohol to an underage person and was fined £500 and ordered to pay £300 costs at Peterborough Magistrates' Court yesterday (Thursday 28 August 2008). She was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

 

Adrian Day, Peterborough City Council's licensing manager, said: "We offer various means of support free of charge to retailers in order for them to operate their businesses within the law. We have just released a comprehensive age restricted sales business information pack which is available to all premises throughout Peterborough which sell products that are subject to age restrictions, such as alcohol, knives and petrol.

 

"We would recommend retailers adopt the 'Challenge 21' policy, where any person who wishes to purchase alcohol and is lucky enough to look under the age of 21 is challenged to prove that they are aged 18 or over. This, together with adequate staff training should reduce the amount of underage sales.

 

"We understand the majority of retailers work hard to operate within the law and comply with legislation. However, where we do have concerns we will continue to work alongside Cambridgeshire Constabulary in order to reduce the risk to children due to underage sales."

 

Debbie Sampson, community safety and licensing team leader for Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: "Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Peterborough City Council are committed to undertaking ongoing test purchasing operations in licensed premises throughout the Peterborough area. These form a crucial element of our work to prevent alcohol related crime and disorder and building safer communities.

 

"We will continue to work hard in partnership with licensed premises to prevent sales of alcohol to underage customers and to take action against those who do not adhere to the terms of the Licensing Act 2003."