Boston store sells alcohol to children during police operation

A Boston store has been caught out selling alcohol to two 16-year-old police volunteers dressed in plain clothes.

European Food, of Wide Bargate, was the only one of seven off licences targeted by Lincolnshire Police in their underage test purchase operation on Monday, November 27.

Sanctions are now being considered against the store that failed the test.

Sergeant Kim Enderby, of Lincolnshire Police’s Alcohol Licensing Team, said that the force was taking a zero-tolerance approach to the sale of alcohol to children.

She said: “We were encouraged that six of the stores visited challenged and refused to sell alcohol to our volunteers.

“It shows that the Community Alcohol Partnership message is working and retailers overall are operating responsibly.

“However, it is still disappointing that they were able to make one purchase.

“We make serious efforts to warn, educate and advise licensed premises to deal with the 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.”