05 March 2008, 19:38 PM
  • “Two strikes and you're out,” that's the new message from the Government to retailers selling alcohol to underaged drinkers.

The secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Andy Burnham, has published the first report on the operation of the Licensing Act introduced in England and Wales in 2005. Although the review doesn’t indicate that 24-hour drinking has led to widespread problems, it reveals alcohol related violence is on the up.

For this reason, the secretary of state called for immediate action. Retailers will now have to be extra careful as to who they’re selling alcohol to with the change in the offence of ‘persistently selling alcohol to a person under 18’ from three to two strikes. Any shop caught twice selling booze to underaged drinkers will immediately lose their licence.

Other points included raising the fine for not obeying an order to stop drinking from £500 to £2,500; making it easier for the police to disperse anti-social drinkers; and an extension of the alcohol arrest referral pilots.

Mr Burnham said, “The Government remains determined to address these issues and the report published today has helped us identify a number of ways we can go further to protect the public, both in terms of using all the flexibilities in the Act to crack down on irresponsible behaviour, including more caution and conditions when issuing licenses and the withdrawal of licences in certain areas.”