Local retailers are still selling alcohol to children despite warnings and campaigns by the West Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and Suffolk Constabulary - and their actions could be putting our youngsters’ health and safety at risk.

Last week, Trading Standards and the Police carried out another Alcohol Test Purchase Operation as part of the LSP ‘Put A Cork In It’ campaign which is now in its second year. Two children aged 14 and 15 attempted alcohol purchases at five premises in Bury St Edmunds and walked away with a 275ml bottle of WKD Blue, 500ml bottle of Smirnoff Ice, and two 75cl bottles of white wine.

Of the five premises tested, the three that made underage alcohol sales were issued Fixed Penalty Notices for disorder and Trading Standards will now be making enquiries in relation to possible offences committed by the owners.

Substance Misuse Coordinators, Sammy Manzaroli and Julia Catterwell said: "It is suggested that women should not consume more than 2-3 units of alcohol per day and the amount of alcohol these young girls were able to purchase amounted to nearly 30 units. This is effectively 10 days worth of alcohol at the recommended daily limit for an adult female. Had they gone on to drink this amount, it could have been devastating and may have resulted in hospitalisation.”

Suffolk Constabulary’s Western Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Marshall, adds: “The first year of the West Suffolk LSP’s campaign was very successful, with almost 80% of licensed premises checked complying with the law and refusing to sell alcohol to our underage volunteers. Whilst the second year of ‘Put A Cork In It’ has not yet reflected this, I hope that it serves as a warning to licensees who will realise the penalties they face for selling alcohol to young people. It is however about much more than warning and fining those who break the law – it is about sending out a message to everyone that the consumption of alcohol by young people is unacceptable, it can make them vulnerable, change their behaviour for the worse and could potentially cause harm.”

John Griffiths, Chair of the West Suffolk LSP, says: “This is a disappointing result and it seems that some retailers have become complacent. We found that records and general management or supervision were poor in the premises where these sales were made and would urge all businesses to reinforce the messages to their staff about underage sales. We will continue to work with the Police to do all we can to improve things in this regard.”