Crackdown on underage drinking

Three licensed premises in East Durham have been fined after selling alcohol to under-age drinkers.

Thirteen off-licenses were targeted by Peterlee Community Policing Team and the police Licensing Unit in June as part of a crackdown named Operation Milkshake.

Premises in Blackhall, Horden and Edenhill in Peterlee were caught selling alcohol to two girls who were aged in their mid-teens.

The people who sold the drinks to the teenage volunteers during the one-day operation were given an £80 spot fine.

If a premises is caught selling on three occasions it will have its licence revoked.

Sergeant Ian Dickenson of Peterlee Community Policing Team, said: “The test purchases were carried out due to public concern and it is very disappointing that these licensed premises were prepared to sell alcohol to people who are under the legal drinking age.

“This is an on-going campaign to tackle this problem and would therefore warn licensees that if they do not act responsibly, and refuse to sell to juveniles, then they will be caught and could end up loosing their license.”