Off-licence sold alcohol to children

POLICe have asked an off-licence in Barnsley to stop serving alcohol over the coming bank holiday weekend after staff failed test purchase operations.

The off-licence on Dearne Road, Bolton-upon-Dearne, is the first in the Barnsley area to be subject to the two-day voluntary closure after being caught selling alcohol to teenagers on two occasions.

Regulations introduced in November 2010 allow a licensed premises to be told to close down for 48 hours if they fail two consecutive test purchase operations.

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South Yorkshire Police regularly conducts such operations, during which 15 and 16-year-old volunteers are sent into a premises to attempt to purchase alcohol.

Chief Inspector Shaun Morley said: “We want to tackle underage drinking throughout Barnsley and if we can get the licensed premises to be extra vigilant then we are some way to achieving this.

“We are wanting licence premises to work with us and hold some responsibility when it comes to underage drinking.

“Asking for a voluntary closure is the last resort, but if a licensed premise consistently fails to take responsibility for this issue then we will have no hesitation in using this power.”