Alcohol sold to youths (From Witney Gazette)

Alcohol sold to youths

3:00pm Tuesday 12th December 2006 in Witney

FOUR licensed premises in West Oxfordshire have been caught serving underage youths, but officials are refusing to name them.

Three out of the four premises were given an £80 fine for selling alcohol to three young people during an undercover sting operation by the police and district council. They sent the teenagers into six premises in Witney, Long Hanborough, Woodstock, and the Wychwoods, to attempt to buy alcohol on Friday night.

Police officers from the neighbourhood team and licensing officers from the council went with the teenagers.

Neither the police nor the council would reveal to the Witney Gazette which premises were found to be breaking the law, or even if they were pubs, off-licences, or nightclubs - after putting out a press release on the combined operation. Sgt Scott Evans, who was in charge of the operation, said: "We intend to carry out these operations across the district during the next year, as one of the emerging priorities and concerns for the public are young people and alcohol."

The fourth premises has not been fined, as further inquiries are being made, a council spokesman said.

Barry Norton, leader of West Oxfordshire District Council and member for licensing, said: "We will continue to work with them in order to prevent unlawful sales which can lead to problems on our streets."

This was the third undercover operation in the area. A total of 25 premises have been tested and nine have been prosecuted for selling alcohol illegally.