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Retailers attacked over alcohol sales

12/10/2006

The government has reacted with frustration to new figures published today showing high numbers of retailers selling alcohol to those under the age of 18.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said he was "disappointed" by the results of the latest alcohol misuse enforcement campaign, whose test purchases in Wales and the north-east of England saw 48 per cent and 18 per cent of retailers sell alcohol to minors respectively.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) licensing minister, Shaun Woodward, said current levels were "not acceptable", but pointed out that penalties for non-compliant retailers had been tightened to help lower numbers of premises breaking the law.

The punishment for selling alcohol to children now stands at a £5,000 fine or the revocation of the licence in question.

Retail organisations have sought to highlight the downward trend in alcohol sales, arguing that although numbers remain high they are heading in the right direction.

"Members are committed to tackling under age sales," Nick Grant, chairperson of the year-old Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG), commented, after pointing out that test purchase failure rates had fallen from 36 per cent to 21 per cent.

"They devote considerable resources to measures including staff training, research, IT and public information and, clearly, there's more to do. This is about delivering long-term, lasting results and we are confident we can bring the failure rate down even further."

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