Alex Salussolia, chairman of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), will make a speech at their annual conference today attacking the policing of current under-age drinking laws.

He will state that the current "sting" approach to policing the offence of Persistently Selling Alcohol to Minors – where pubs and bars found guilty face a three month close or £10,000 fine if caught three times over the next three months – has the avowed intention of closing pubs down.

Salussolia will say in his speech: “The police will be offended by these thoughts but our industry is being asked to take a partnership approach to the many challenges that face us. It takes two to tango and you don’t want a partner that treads on your toes.”

Delegates will also hear words of encouragement to operators to be “doubly vigilant on underage drinking and other crime and disorder issues”.

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By Christopher Walton

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