More powers have been handed to Swansea Council to help deal with underage drinking in the city.
The Council is one of 13 in Wales to obtain new powers that will enable Trading Standards Officers to issue £80 penalties to people caught selling alcohol to anyone under the age of 18.
This means the penalty will be issued directly to the person making the sale. In addition the Council will examine the procedures that are in place at the business to prevent sales being made to people under the age of 18 before deciding what action should be taken against the licence holder.
Until now only the Police could issue fixed penalties but now Trading Standards Officers have also been accredited. This means that Trading Standards and the Police can be more flexible in managing the issues relating to underage drinking when working together to deal with the problem.
David Picken, Trading Standards Divisional Officer in Swansea Council, said: “These powers will help the Council deal more effectively with underage drinking.
“We work with local Police throughout the year to prevent the sale of alcohol and provide advice and guidance to retailers and licence holders during our inspection programmes.
“Test purchase exercises are undertaken to check that premises have responsible management procedures in place that prevent sales being made to young people.
“The new powers will give us a bit more flexibility to carry out this important work.”
John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We have a duty to protect our young people in the city and not expose them to alcohol before they are legally permitted to do so.
“Hopefully the powers will also lead to improvements in the side effects of underage drinking in communities such as anti-social behaviour.”
