Publicans face court for selling to children

Plain clothes officers toured the town on September 2 with 15 and 16'“year'“old volunteers who visited licensed premises.

In each of the pubs tested the volunteers were served every time and were not challenged about their age or asked for identification.

Fixed penalty notices were then handed out to the bar staff who served the youngsters.

The licensees have now been reported and police are now deciding whether they will be prosecuted.

These results follow a similar test by West Sussex County Council trading standards officers earlier this year which reported a 15 per cent rise in the number of premises selling alcohol to those aged under 18.

Full story in West Sussex Gazette, September 15