More than one million under-age drinkers a month are turned away from pubs, according to a study by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

With penalties for serving under 18’s currently standing at an £80 on the spot fine for bar staff and anything up to £10,000 for pub managers and licensees, British pubs are becoming more effective in enforcing the law.

Mark Hastings, director of communications at the BBPA, said the study highlighted two issues: “Firstly, it indicates the large number of under-18s trying on a regular basis to buy drink in pubs, illustrating the scale of the challenge pubs face every day.

“Secondly, it demonstrates that pub staff are playing a vital role in enforcing the law.  It clearly shows the enormous effort being applied by the industry.”

The figures come at a time when the Home Office is conducting its Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign, where police forces and local authorities are conducting test purchases in 3,000 premises.

Hastings added: “As an industry we would also like to see a greater weight of enforcement being applied to those doing the buying as well as those doing the selling.”

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By Christopher Walton

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