Maidenhead & Windsor

A Friday night crack down on under-age sales found two local retailers who sold alcohol to a 15-year-old who was working under Maidenhead Royal Borough trading standards supervision.

The joint Thames Valley Police-trading standards operation on Friday October 13 involved visits to six shops – five in Maidenhead and one in the Windsor area.

Police issued an £80 on-the-spot fine to a shop assistant and trading standards are continuing to investigate the second seller, as well as both of the shop owners. Sanctions available to trading standards include written warnings, formal cautions and prosecution, and licensees may also find their licence to sell alcohol under review by the council.

The joint Maidenhead operation is the latest in an ongoing programme designed to clamp down on under-age sales of alcohol across the borough and the anti-social behaviour it causes – and traders are warned that further test purchasing operations are planned for the months ahead.

Steve Johnson, trading standards manager, said: "We have been undertaking this type of operation for a number of years and retailers really have no excuse if they are caught selling alcohol to children. We are determined to tackle the problem and, with the help of the police, will continue to deal firmly with shops that break the law. Our advice to traders remains the same – no ID, no sale."

Debie Pearmain, police licensing officer of Thames Valley Police, said: "We are very pleased to have been able to work in partnership with trading standards in order to tackle part of a growing problem.

"Alcohol consumption by young teenagers has a profound detrimental effect on their own health and on their communities as we have seen a direct link between alcohol and anti-social behaviour. We shall continue to work in partnership with trading standards in future operations."

If anyone suspects that Maidenhead retailers are selling alcohol to children – or any other age-restricted product such as cigarettes, fireworks or solvents – they should report the matter in confidence to trading standards on 01628 683802.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead