Alcohol message hitting home

POLICE and trading standards officers in the Babergh district say results from a recent alcohol test purchasing operation prove a campaign targeting anti-social behaviour is working.

To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.

The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up.

Email address

  Send link

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Officers from Sudbury and Great Cornard Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and Trading Standards conducted the joint operation on February 10, in which 11 local shops and licensed premises in the two towns were tested.

All of the premises refused to serve under-age volunteers with alcohol or tobacco, and all filled out the required refusals register.

Last December, Sudbury police were “disappointed” to find three shops in the town selling alcohol to under-age customers, despite the ongoing initiative to curb anti-social behaviour. Three stores in or close to Sudbury town centre were issued with warnings.

Sergeant Kevin Horton said three out of five shops was “an unsatisfactory result” but added: “The message should be getting through not to sell to those under age, and to ask for identification if in doubt.”

Following the latest operation, Pc Jon Gerrish of Sudbury and Great Cornard SNT said: “It is excellent that we had 100% success in this operation, but we will continue to ensure that all premises in the Babergh district remain responsible and obey the law.

“We regularly conduct these joint operations and deal robustly with any premises that sell alcohol to underage individuals, with the help of Trading Standards.”

Suffolk County Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, Colin Spence described the latest campaign as “a positive result for Sudbury and Great Cornard, with local traders taking responsibility for challenging young people where necessary.”