Booze Sting Uncovers Two

Alcohol bans have been called for by local residents through the Ashmore Park Police Liaison Committee, as the public express concern about youngsters drinking to excess and then committing acts of vandalism.

Councillor Phil Bateman said “Now Wolverhampton Trading Standards Officials have confirmed to me that the concerns of local people about booze being sold to under aged children are well founded. Trading Standards targeted 4 premises in the Ashmore Park area in a Supervised Child Test Purchase exercise which took place this week in the middle of half term.

I am informed that the targeted premises were visited on the evening of the 18th February 2004, generating two refusals and two sales of alcohol to a 15 year old boy. The two illegal sales will be investigated with a view to legal proceedings being taken against the Licensees.

This action is very much welcomed by me; it has proven that some young people can gain alcohol from established local premises. What I am keen to see now is if the West Midlands Police are likely to support a ‘booze ban’ in public areas if the Council pursues one?

A lot of pressure is on the police for an answer now on this issue; it may be that they believe that they have all the legal powers they need to deal with under age drinking and rowdy youths. If so it is really incumbent on them to say so.

In the meantime I would like to say how pleased I am that the Labour controlled Council has taken such a positive step in the battle to control the illegal selling of alcohol to minors. The public would want to see more action like this successful ‘sting’ by the Local Authority taking place.”