Police and Trading Standards officers have carried out two separate test purchasing operations in the last week, with disappointing results.
The first operation took place on Saturday, August 23, where nine shops were visited by a 17 year old girl attempting to buy alcohol, and two failed, serving her without asking for any identification.
The results for the shops visited were as follows:
- Spar, Meon Road – Pass
- The Larder, Locksway Road – Pass
- Co Op, Eastney Road – Pass
- Threshers, Eastney Road – Pass
- Spar, Fort Cumberland Road – Fail
- Co Op, Highland Road – Fail
- Threshers, Highland Road – Pass
- One Stop, Highland Road – Pass
- Somerfield, Highland Road – Pass
The second operation was carried out on Wednesday, August 27, where another nine shops were visited and again, two of them failed.
The results for the shops visited in the second operation were as follows:
- Amy Kim’s, Allaway Avenue – Pass
- Kwiki Mart Food and Tipple, Mablethorpe Road – Pass
- New Kwiki Mart, Halstead Road – Pass
- Ellys, Havant Road – Pass
- Spar, Havant Road – Pass
- New Ellys, Havant Road – Pass
- Tesco Express, Havant Road – Pass
- Kwiki Mart, Hillsley Road – Fail
- Co Op, Havant Road – Fail
All four of the staff members who served alcohol in the premises which failed during the two operations were issued with on the spot fines of £80.
Councillor Jason Fazackarley, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety at Portsmouth City Council, said, “It’s very disappointing to find that despite all our efforts at education, staff are still selling alcohol to underage people. Underage drinking is a serious issue that affects health and can lead to anti social behaviour. We will continue to take forceful action with our colleagues in the police.”
Chief Inspector James Fulton said, “Though the majority of licensed premises appear to be taking their responsibilities in relation to alcohol sales seriously, there are still a few who clearly aren’t, which displays an obvious need for us to continue these operations to reinforce the message that sales of alcohol to those who are underage is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
