18 June 2012
The owner of a Caerphilly county borough pub has been taken to court and fined for allowing the sale of alcohol to a 14 year old, during a multi-agency test purchasing operation.
Thomas John Davies, of the Hafodyrynys Inn, Hafodyrynys was taken to court after a 14 year old test purchase volunteer was served with two bottles of vodka-based WKD Blue, during a test purchase operation in February 2012 by Caerphilly County Borough Council's Trading Standards team and Gwent Police.
Davies appeared at Caerphilly Magistrates Court on 31st May 2012. He was found guilty of the offence of selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18, contrary to the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.
He was ordered to pay a fine of £265, together with prosecution costs to the council of £514 and a £15 victim surcharge.
The employee who served the child was dealt with immediately following the test purchase, and was issued with a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) of £80.
Cllr Dave Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said, "The irresponsible actions of Mr Davies as the owner of the premises have cost him dearly – almost £800 is a lot of money to have to part with for something which so easily could have been avoided if the correct process for asking for identification to check for age had been in place".
He continued, "I hope this hefty fine will act as a deterrent to the small minority who do not take their licensing responsibilities seriously".
PC Jeanette Pearce said, "Gwent Police works very closely with the licensing trade but where we receive intelligence or concerns from the community that standards at a premises are not being maintained we will seek to prosecute with our colleagues from Caerphilly County Borough Council and Trading Standards".
"Poorly run premises often have a negative impact on a community and this is one of the tactics we use and will continue to use to deal with any premises that falls below the required standard. It's a proven fact that the misuse of alcohol is a factor in leading young people to behave in an anti-social manner and those businesses that have a licence to sell alcohol have a responsibility to ensure that the conditions of that licence, and the law are upheld".
To report a premises for selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in Caerphilly county borough, please contact Caerphilly County Borough Council's Trading Standards team on 01495 235 291 or e-mail tradingstandards@caerphilly.gov.uk
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