July 22, 2015 12.30 pm This story is over 103 months old

Lincoln pub caught selling alcohol to undercover 16-year-old

Undercover test: A Lincoln pub was among three businesses in the county caught selling alcohol to a 16-year-old police volunteer.

A Lincoln pub was among three businesses in the county caught selling alcohol to a 16-year-old police volunteer.

On Thursday, July 9 officers from Lincolnshire Police accompanied by two underage volunteers conducted a plainclothes test purchase operation at pubs around the county, targeting the underage sale of alcohol.

The results were as follows:

  • Ye Olde Crown, Clasketgate, Lincoln– sold alcohol to 16 year old volunteer
  • The Ship Inn, Horncastle– sold alcohol to 16 year old volunteer
  • The Ship Inn, Chapel St Leonards- sold alcohol to 16 year old volunteer

The Black Swan in Horncastle, Wolfies Wine Bar and the Marine BoatHouse in Skegness all refused to serve our underage volunteers.

Licensing Sergeant Kim Enderby said: “These test purchase operations are all intelligence led, involving premises where we have received information that the staff are selling alcohol to underage persons.

“On the receipt of such information, the people running the shops, pubs, bars or clubs are sent letters advising them that this information has been received to enable them to check their staff and ensure they are not selling or to stop them selling.

“They are advised that the premises will be tested and invited to discuss any concerns or issues they may have identified following our initial warning communication.

“We then conduct the plainclothes Test Purchase Operation, following the sale of alcohol to one of our underage volunteers the member of staff making the sale is issued with a fixed penalty notice for £90.00.

“The premises operators are then contacted and invited to a meeting to explain our findings, identify any potential weaknesses in their operation which need addressing and to warn them of the serious potential consequences if they are found to be selling a second time.

“We make serious efforts to warn, educate and advise suspect premises to deal with this issue of underage sales and the impact it has upon anti-social and criminal behaviour in local communities and the harmful effects on the health of young people.

“We have a number of similar operations planned for the next few months and those involved in the illegal sale of alcohol to children can expect a visit”