Responsible Alcohol Sales Campaign information from BII and National Pubwatch – Christmas 2007
19-Nov-2007
Building on previous AMECs (Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns) and TUSACs (Tackling Underage Sales Campaign), the Home Office have confirmed their funding for a Christmas Campaign again focusing on compliance with the Licensing Act 2003 by both “on” and “off” premises.
Approximately 90 Basic Command Units (BCUs) of Police Forces in England and Wales (about 1/3rd of the total) will be involved in the campaign, which will be in two main phases: -
(1) Awareness raising - 19th November – 30th November 2007
Police officers and other agencies, will make advisory visits giving information, guidance and support on the campaign, as well as answering any questions licensees may have. ‘Think before they Drink’ posters are also available to help remind staff of their legal obligations.
(2) Enforcement phase - 1st December – 23rd December 2007
Police will target their efforts on perceived “problem premises” and will also target premises where clearly drunken clientele are allowed to enter.
Officers will still be checking on overall compliance with the Licensing Act 2003, and will be targeting premises selling alcohol to underage persons and those likely to be associated with criminal or disorderly behaviour. Evidence gathering visits and enforcement will take place over the four weekends running up to Christmas and are likely to involve around 1,300 licensed premises nationally, less than 1% of all licensed premises.
The campaign is geared to targeting poorly managed premises that are thought to be associated with alcohol-related violence, crime and disorder. It will focus on enforcing those aspects of the Licensing Act 2003 that cover knowingly selling alcohol to someone who is drunk, obtaining alcohol for someone who is drunk, failure to leave a premises and allowing disorderly conduct on a licensed premise. The campaign will also include underage sales, not only concentrating on the sales themselves but also addressing the problem of young people attempting to buy or being supplied with alcohol.
In order to have the desired impact of reducing alcohol related violence and disorder, the plain clothes officers undertaking visits are likely to focus on the offence under S.141 of the Act, “knowingly” selling alcohol to an intoxicated person.
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To complete this offence the seller must know that the person is drunk, so in order to prove this offence the police will have to have evidence that the person was in effect “unequivocally” drunk. A police officer is classified as an expert witness in this respect.
- Fixed penalty notices (£80) may be issued by a uniformed officer if an offence is committed.
The vast majority of our socially responsible members already have robust training and processes in place to prevent and manage these type of incidents. Therefore, although there is no room for complacency, they should have nothing to fear from this campaign.
However, it may be prudent and an opportune time to remind all staff to:-
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always check valid* i/d if a customer appears underage
- always refuse service to any customer who is clearly drunk
- if in doubt barstaff should refer to their supervisor or manager.
Further information on the campaign can be found on our websites www.bii.org or www.nationalpubwatch.org.uk
* i.e. ‘PASS’ approved i/d card; photo driving licence; passport
Notes to Editors
- National Pubwatch is a voluntary organisation set up to support existing pubwatches and encourage the creation of new pubwatch schemes with the aim of achieving a safer social drinking environment in all licensed premises throughout the
