Liskeard publican fined over sales to children

Last updated: 05/12/2012 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

Cornwall Council Trading Standards issued a stern warning after the conviction of a Liskeard publican caught selling alcohol to children.

Lewis Jon Elliot of the Railway Inn, Barn Street, Liskeard appeared at Bodmin Magistrates Court on 28 November 2012 charged with serving alcohol to a person under the age of 18.

The prosecution followed a test purchase operation in March this year during which a 16 year old volunteer was sold a bottle of ‘alcopop’.  The operation had been prompted by information that suggested underage drinking was regularly taking place at the Railway Inn. The pub had failed a similar test purchase in 2010, after which support and advice was given to the licensee to prevent a recurrence.

Mr Elliot pleaded guilty to offences under Section 146 of the Licensing Act 2003 and Magistrates imposed fines and costs of £1117.31.

Nigel Strick, Fair Trading Manager at Cornwall Council said; “Alcohol misuse is causing all sorts of problems in Cornwall. Alcohol-related hospital admissions for the under 18s are higher than the national and regional averages, about a half of all violent crime in Cornwall is linked to alcohol and a quarter of the county’s residents regularly drink above recommended safe levels. As a result, Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards, working with young volunteers and the Police will continue to conduct Test Purchase Operations against pubs, clubs and shops suspected of illegal sales of alcohol or other age-restricted goods. We hope that the result of this prosecution will send a clear message to all business in Cornwall – the sale of alcohol to children will not be tolerated”.

Story posted 30 November 2012