The South Glos Post

Teenage volunteers helped police and Trading Standards officers check whether licensees were prepared to sell alcohol to children.

The operation on Friday April 16 2010 checked a dozen off-licences and convenience stores in Hanham, Kingswood, Oldland Common, Soundwell, Staple Hill, Warmley and Willsbridge.

The two clearly underage volunteers – one male, one female – were only able to buy alcohol in one Hanham store. The shop worker made the sale even after seeing the identity card of one volunteer which showed he was under 18.

The worker who made the sale was issued with an on-the-spot £80 fine. Steps will now be taken to ensure that the sale that did take place will not be repeated, while those who refused to sell will be sent a letter of appreciation.

(more…)

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Teenage volunteers have helped police and South Gloucestershire Council Trading Standards officers check whether stores will sell alcohol to under-18s.

The operation, on Friday January 29 2010, focused on off-licences and convenience stores in Cadbury Heath, Kingswood, Oldland Common, Warmley and Willsbridge.

Nine premises were checked by the volunteers aged 14 and 16.

In three of them, the youngsters were able to buy alcohol – despite showing an identity card with their true age on it.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Rachael Hodges said: “There is a clear link between under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour, and it’s disappointing that we had sales in Kingswood, Oldland Common and Warmley, where we have been working hard to tackle these problems.

(more…)

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Neighbourhood Police and Trading Standards officers carrying out checks on underage alcohol sales in the Chipping Sodbury, Frampton Cotterell and Yate areas were disappointed that five out of seven off-licences sold alcohol to under-18s.

On Friday September 04 2009 police teamed up with South Gloucestershire Trading Standards officers for the operation, aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related offences.

With the help of clearly underage teenage volunteers they visited seven off-licences to check whether they were prepared to sell alcohol to under-18s.

Staff in five stores were given £80 on-the-spot fines after selling drink to the youngsters.

Neighbourhood PC Ian Matthews said: “This is an ongoing operation designed to tackle anti-social behaviour – a consistent priority for local people – at the source. Alcohol and young people do not mix – it can lead to anti-social and criminal behaviour and our licensees have a responsibility to ensure that alcohol does not fall into the wrong hands.

“I’m disappointed that five did sell to minors – especially as some of them did ask for ID, didn’t check them properly and still sold, even though the ID proved the children were under 18. Steps will now be taken to ensure that the sales that did take place will not be repeated, while those who refused to sell will be sent a letter of appreciation.”

Councillor Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: “It was disappointing that five off-licences sold alcohol to clearly underage volunteers and the appropriate action will be taken in regard to this. We will continue our efforts in co-operation with the police to remind businesses to comply with the law as the sale of alcohol to children is an extremely serious matter and it will not be tolerated.”

Anyone selling alcohol to an under-18 or buying on behalf of a minor could be fined.

Anyone with concerns about under-age alcohol sales can contact the Neighbourhood Team at Chipping Sodbury Police Station on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask your name and never trace your call.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Street theatre performances and life-size floor stickers depicting ‘drunk people’, are being used by officers from Avon and Somerset Constabulary and South Gloucestershire Council to launch a campaign against binge drinking in Kingswood this weekend.

The campaign, called ‘Know Your Limits’, is targeted at 18 to 24-year-olds. Officers will talk through the consequences of binge drinking on a night out and the anti-social behaviour which can follow.

Young actors from Solomon Theatre Company will perform ‘real-life’ scenarios of a night out gone wrong due to excessive drinking, encouraging people to think about the consequences of their actions.

Performances will be held throughout the afternoon on Saturday 08 August 2009 from12pm to 4pm at Kings Chase Shopping Centre.

The performances aim to raise awareness of the dangers of excessive drinking and highlight how to improve personal safety when under the influence of alcohol.

A life-size sticker of a young man suffering from the ill-effects of too much alcohol will be stuck on the floor by the taxi rank, Kingswood High Street. The idea is to get people thinking ‘You wouldn’t start a night like this, so why end it like this?’

These weekend activities support the work already being carried out by South Gloucestershire Council, police, other agencies and community groups which make up the Safer & Stronger Communities Partnership.

Kingswood has been chosen for the focus of this campaign because it is one of the main areas in South Gloucestershire where people go for a night out.
South Gloucestershire Council has also invested in a taxi marshal scheme in the High Street to make sure people feel safe and get home safely after their night out.

Neighbourhood Inspector Kevin Thatcher said: “Many people enjoy a night out and a drink, but a minority drink too much and ruin the night for everyone.

“Police are determined to work with the council, licensees and other partners to tackle the problems caused by binge drinking, and this campaign will help us do that.

“Much violent crime across the country is alcohol-fuelled and the Know Your Limits campaign is a reminder to everyone that drinking too much could mean they get involved in trouble and get hurt or arrested themselves.”

Cllr John Godwin, executive member for external affairs and partnerships, said: “We hope that these innovative activities will help young people on a night out in Kingswood this weekend to become more aware of their actions and take steps to look after themselves. The campaign will be about telling young people to think about their behaviour when they have been drinking so that everyone can enjoy a happy and safe night out.”

The Know Your Limits campaign is a Government initiative to highlight the negative consequences of drinking too much alcohol. The campaign stresses the need for young drinkers to know the transformation point that occurs between having a good time and becoming a bad drunk, and the need to be aware of the consequences of excessive drinking.

Following the weekend of activities, the agencies involved will work together to evaluate the results of the campaign in order to plan any future events.

Alcohol units and information fact file:

Sensible drinking for women =2 to 3 units per day = 14 units per week.
Sensible drinking for men = 3 to 4 units per day = 21 units per week

What is a unit?
A UK unit is 10ml or 8 grams of pure alcohol. However the number of units in a drink depends on what you are drinking, how strong it is and how much of it there is.

Source: www.drinkaware.co.uk which includes a unit calculator to track your drinking

Source: Avon and Somerset Police