Test purchase operation in North West Leicestershire sees all businesses pass

An operation in North West Leicestershire to test businesses selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 saw all those who were visited pass.

As part of the operation which was carried out yesterday evening (Wednesday), a total of 14 stores were visited and tested in Coalville, Ashby, Ibstock, Whitwick, Measham and Ellistown.

The businesses were approached by a 16-year-old and 17-year-old volunteer, who acted as test purchasers, and tried to purchase alcohol without any form of identification. All the businesses successfully did not sell any alcohol to the teenagers.

Sergeant Jon Sharpe from Coalville’s dedicated neighbourhood team, said: “We are extremely pleased that all the businesses that were visited and tested passed, especially as six of them had previously failed.

“Test purchasing operations play a key role in ensuring that businesses operate within the law and we want to continue to enforce the message to licensed and unlicensed premises, to remind their staff to conduct ‘Challenge 25’ checks.”

It is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18. Businesses can be prosecuted and fined for doing so and their licence could be at risk.

The Challenge 25 scheme enables a business to request identification from anyone they believe to be aged 25 years or under and request valid proof of age.