Co-op caught selling underage booze
A CO-OP caught selling booze to a 15-year-old boy is one of two stores which has been warned it might have its licence reviewed.
The Co-op Late Shop in Bury Road, Breightmet, was among six stores and off-licences in the area targeted during test purchase exercises carried out by police and Bolton trading standards officers.
A staff member sold the teenage volunteer a two-litre bottle of Strongbow cider.
The Local store, also in Bury Road, was the only other shop caught selling alcohol to the volunteer when he was allowed to buy four cans of Stella Artois lager during the operation last Wednesday.
The test purchases were part of Operation Slingshot, a day of action by police across Greater Manchester against anti-social behaviour.
Trading standards officers joined forces with police after parts of Breightmet were this month designated a "dispersal zone" in an attempt to rid the area of troublemakers.
Police set up the zone to tackle the problem of large gangs. It allows officers to break up youths gathering within the designated boundaries and ban them from returning for 24 hours.
Richard Lindley, head of Bolton Trading Standards, said: "Two out of six is not good enough and we will continue carrying out these test purchases across the whole of Bolton until the message gets across."
Inspector Tony Kenyon said: "It's disappointing that these two stores have failed the test and their liquor licenses will now come under review."
Officers will now monitor the stores' activities and, if they have further concerns, can refer them to Bolton Council's licensing committee which could impose restrictions on the licences or withdraw them altogether.
A Co-operative Group spokesman said: "The Co-operative Group takes the issue of age-restricted sales extremely seriously.
"Our instructions to staff clearly state that any potential purchaser of age restricted products who appears to be under the age of 21 should be asked to provide proof that they are 18 or over. If none can be provided then the sale must be refused.
"We provide instructions, training and guidance for all store staff on the sale of age restricted products. However, we regret that on this occasion, it appears, staff have not been as vigilant in implementing our procedures as we would wish."
Staff at the store are being retrained, he added.
5:39pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: markd, bolton on 5:51pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[boldInspector Tony Kenyon said: "It's disappointing that these two stores have failed the test and their liquor licenses will now come under review."
Officers will now monitor the stores' activities and, if they have further concerns, can refer them to Bolton Council's licensing committee which could impose restrictions on the licences or withdraw them altogether.
In other words nothing will be done. How pathetic and a waste of time and money.
[boldInspector Tony Kenyon said: "It's disappointing that these two stores have failed the test and their liquor licenses will now come under review."
Officers will now monitor the stores' activities and, if they have further concerns, can refer them to Bolton Council's licensing committee which could impose restrictions on the licences or withdraw them altogether.
In other words nothing will be done. How pathetic and a waste of time and money.
Posted by: jockey, atherton on 5:54pm Thu 27 Mar 08
pathetic should take the booze licence of them its the only way to stop it.
pathetic should take the booze licence of them its the only way to stop it.
Posted by: billy bob, local on 6:48pm Thu 27 Mar 08
well i never. what is this area we talk of YET AGAIN, you guessed it,BREIGHTMET,you cant make this up.
well i never. what is this area we talk of YET AGAIN, you guessed it,BREIGHTMET,you cant make this up.
Posted by: Bad Wolf, Bolton on 7:00pm Thu 27 Mar 08
They were just being Co-operative...
They were just being Co-operative...
Posted by: chas, suffolk on 7:26pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Did the kids get their divi?
Did the kids get their divi?
Posted by: Sheila, Bolton on 7:29pm Thu 27 Mar 08
It`s about time the police and the licensing authorities stopped pussyfooting about and removed the licenses from both these shops. Never mind the Co-Op retraining members of staff sack the ones who sold the alcohol.
It`s about time the police and the licensing authorities stopped pussyfooting about and removed the licenses from both these shops. Never mind the Co-Op retraining members of staff sack the ones who sold the alcohol.
Posted by: woopydoou, uk on 8:42pm Thu 27 Mar 08
It is ok to target the shops who sell booze this is just the tip of the iceberg. What about the moron adults who assist these stupid teenagers to get the booze, I have been asked on several occasions by louts will I buy booze and cigarettes for them, the answer being NO! Then they will ask the next person the same, but unlike my self, this idiot complies.
The law should come down on folk like that, how does the shopkeeper know if the adult buying is legitimately buying for them or aiding under age drinking. They don’t, unless these irresponsible imbeciles realise that they are knowingly aiding and abetting the drunken yob culture that exists. This is what the police should be targeting to nip it in the bud.
Maybe the UK should also take heed of the USA, most states have a 21 years age limit that’s a start and then no matter what age you are it is compulsory to show ID in order to purchase booze or tobacco products, no ID no booze or cigarettes.
It really gets to me there are measures to be taken that could work but it is totally ignored. Then it is the innocent folk that pay the price for the ignorance shown by many folk who think well it’s not on my doorstep so what the hell.
It is ok to target the shops who sell booze this is just the tip of the iceberg. What about the moron adults who assist these stupid teenagers to get the booze, I have been asked on several occasions by louts will I buy booze and cigarettes for them, the answer being NO! Then they will ask the next person the same, but unlike my self, this idiot complies.
The law should come down on folk like that, how does the shopkeeper know if the adult buying is legitimately buying for them or aiding under age drinking. They don’t, unless these irresponsible imbeciles realise that they are knowingly aiding and abetting the drunken yob culture that exists. This is what the police should be targeting to nip it in the bud.
Maybe the UK should also take heed of the USA, most states have a 21 years age limit that’s a start and then no matter what age you are it is compulsory to show ID in order to purchase booze or tobacco products, no ID no booze or cigarettes.
It really gets to me there are measures to be taken that could work but it is totally ignored. Then it is the innocent folk that pay the price for the ignorance shown by many folk who think well it’s not on my doorstep so what the hell.
Posted by: Woody on 9:33am Fri 28 Mar 08
They were lucky to get served in the Late Shop - staffing is usually 3 stacking shelves, 2 outside having a smoke, 1 brewing up and no-one on the tills!!
They were lucky to get served in the Late Shop - staffing is usually 3 stacking shelves, 2 outside having a smoke, 1 brewing up and no-one on the tills!!
Posted by: Woody on 9:40am Fri 28 Mar 08
They were lucky to get served in the Late Shop - staffing is usually 3 stacking shelves, 2 outside having a smoke, 1 brewing up and no-one on the tills!!
They were lucky to get served in the Late Shop - staffing is usually 3 stacking shelves, 2 outside having a smoke, 1 brewing up and no-one on the tills!!
Posted by: doodle9, blackrod on 10:34am Fri 28 Mar 08
A CO-OP caught selling booze to a 15-year-old boy is one of two stores which has been warned it might have its licence reviewed.
SHOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC BAN ON THIS STORE NO MIGHT ABOUT IT !!!!
A CO-OP caught selling booze to a 15-year-old boy is one of two stores which has been warned it might have its licence reviewed.
SHOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC BAN ON THIS STORE NO MIGHT ABOUT IT !!!!
Posted by: Martin Duggan on 11:26am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Woody[/bold] wrote:
They were lucky to get served in the Late Shop - staffing is usually 3 stacking shelves, 2 outside having a smoke, 1 brewing up and no-one on the tills!![/quote] It must be the same in every Co-op in the country!! The amount of times Im waiting in q's when there are other staff stacking shelves and yapping is incredible. I must admit to sometimes having a go at them!!!
Woody wrote:
They were lucky to get served in the Late Shop - staffing is usually 3 stacking shelves, 2 outside having a smoke, 1 brewing up and no-one on the tills!!
It must be the same in every Co-op in the country!! The amount of times Im waiting in q's when there are other staff stacking shelves and yapping is incredible. I must admit to sometimes having a go at them!!!
Posted by: RockyRereturns, Bicester on 2:08pm Fri 28 Mar 08
1 of of six is not good enough never mind "two out of six"
Suspend their licence for a year. Then if caught again any time in five years after getting their licence back ban them for 10 Years from selling alcohol.
It will work be effective and make the store managers think twice about checks.
Raise the age of buying Alcohol from shops ONLY to 21.
Keep it 18 in the pubs.
1 of of six is not good enough never mind "two out of six"
Suspend their licence for a year. Then if caught again any time in five years after getting their licence back ban them for 10 Years from selling alcohol.
It will work be effective and make the store managers think twice about checks.
Raise the age of buying Alcohol from shops ONLY to 21.
Keep it 18 in the pubs.
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