Trading Standards officers have said they are ‘disappointed’ after teens were able to illegally buy booze in six out of seven off-licences.
The underage-sales operation, carried out by Devon County Council Trading Standards, resulted in over 60 per cent of retail premises checked across Devon being caught selling alcohol to under 18’s.
46 shops were checked and 28 sold alcohol to under-age volunteers.
The 16- and 17-year-old girls sent into Exeter off-licences on March 20 were able to buy alcohol on six out of seven occasions. The premises have not been named.
The operation was part of a new initiative by Trading Standards, as part of their work to reducing ‘alcohol-related harm’ in county youngsters.
The exercise was designed to check whether retailers were complying with the ‘Challenge 21′ scheme, under which anyone who looks under under 21 is supposed to be asked for valid photo identification.
Trading Standards normally use 14 to 15 year old volunteers in their test purchase operations, but on this occasion the age of the volunteers was raised to make a tougher, more realistic test for licensed premises.
A spokesman said that volunteers were not given false identification and a simple request to see proof of age would have been enough to prevent any sale.
In previous exercises carried out in Devon, using the younger volunteers, approximately 40 per cent of on-licence premises, such as pubs, have sold to those underage, and 20 per cent of off-licences.
The operations carried out throughout March, were part of an ongoing focus on the problems caused by the sale of age restricted products to youngsters.
Council leader Brian Greenslade said: “Every member of staff responsible for alcohol sales must be prepared to challenge youngsters to prove their age.
“We fully recognise how difficult it is for retailers to accurately assess the age of a young person, and that is why they should use the ‘No Proof Of Age - No Sale’ materials that have been freely provided, or a suitable alternative, and ensure their staff follow the simple advice given to prevent further illegal sales.
“The request to see identification for anyone who might appear under 21 has to become standard practice.”
Peter Green, from Devon Trading Standards, said: “This is a very disappointing result. We have been working hard with the retail trade in Devon to reduce alcohol sales to young people. Yet in every case where a sale was made to a 16 or 17 year old volunteer, staff failed to ask for photo identification.
“By failing to take this simple precaution and then selling alcohol to under 18’s, not only do they commit a criminal offence, they also risk the business losing its alcohol sales licence.”