Sussex Police successfully clamping down on alcohol sales to underage drinkers in Brighton and Hove

Under the banner of Opertation Teepee, licensing officers carry out checks to ensure licence holders across the city are asking for proof of age from young customers.
By Frankie Elliott
Published 11th Nov 2021, 15:28 GMT
Updated 16th Nov 2021, 17:16 GMT
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Sussex Police's efforts to combat the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers in Brighton and Hove is showing positive results.

On Thursday, October 21, officers visited 12 premises and 11 passed the identification checks.

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One premise failed after a volunteer was served by a designated premises supervisor, who will now face prosecution under the Licensing Act 2003 for allowing the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18.

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Inspector Michelle Palmer-Harris said: “Licence holders who serve young people alcohol are in breach of the law and failing the licensing objective and their responsibility to protect children from harm."Inspector Michelle Palmer-Harris said: “Licence holders who serve young people alcohol are in breach of the law and failing the licensing objective and their responsibility to protect children from harm."
Inspector Michelle Palmer-Harris said: “Licence holders who serve young people alcohol are in breach of the law and failing the licensing objective and their responsibility to protect children from harm."

Another venue that passed was a retest from a previous failure during the last round of checks on August 11, 2021.

Inspector Michelle Palmer-Harris said: "It is positive to see such a high proportion of premises pass the age tests, including previous failures who have taken on board the message from previous shortcomings.

“As a force we will continue to make sure vendors are sticking to the terms of their licences and engage, educate and enforce where necessary."

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As part of Operation Teepee, volunteers under the age of 18 attempt to purchase alcohol and, if a sale is made, education or enforcement action is taken.

Similarly, officers test shops’ Challenge 25 policy – the requirement to verify the age of customers who look younger than 25 – by using a 21-year-old volunteer posing as a customer.

Over the course of 2021, two premises failed Challenge 25 tests, were issued licence breach warning letters and passed when retested.

Seven premises served volunteers under the age of 18. Five of these had conditions added to their licences, six were issued with formal warnings and met with licensing officers and one designated supervisor will be prosecuted.

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Inspector Palmer-Harris added: “Licence holders have an obligation to ask for ID if a customer appears to be under the age of 25 and of course nobody under 18 should be served alcohol.

“Failure to do so is a serious risk to public health, fuels anti-social behaviour and will not be tolerated.”

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