Keeping kids boozing

The recent National Licensed Business Show gave licensees of all kinds of tips and hints on sticking to the Licensing Act (2003).
The key concern among the publicans was how to deal with test purchases and how they could train their staff to recognise under-18s. Nobody wants to break the law and be fined and many revealed they were at great pains to avoid serving those under age.

As delegates spilled out of the key-note session and onto the show floor, directly opposite was a stand giving away free samples of real ale.

In a touch of irony that would have made Alanis Morrisette choke on her herbal tea, the stand was rather popular with visitors attending the neighbouring Leisure Industry show - most notably local students who ticked most of the boxes marked “scally” or “chav”.

They were all knocking the free samples of beer back without the hint of an ID or age check. Just goes to show that it is not always the supermarkets that are to blame.