MAJOR under-age sales operations by Devon Trading Standards and police in the Okehampton area and Totnes have resulted in two employees of a shop and a pub being fined for selling alcohol to children.

Earlier this month, eight off-licence and five on-licence (such as pubs) premises were visited in the Okehampton area, as part of an operation that involved multiple teams of officers and young volunteers.  Alcohol was sold by one shop assistant to a 15-year-old boy.

In a similar operation in Totnes in April, three off-licence and seven on-licence premises were visited, with one employee from a pub selling alcohol to a 15-year old boy.

The sellers were both issued with £80 fixed penalty notices.

The figures are an improvement on results from exercises carried out in Devon last year, when almost 40% of on-licence premises sold to those underage and 15% of off-licences did.

Police Constable Nadine Wilson said: 'We are delighted with the response from the licensees within the Okehampton area and would like to congratulate them on their vigilance with regard to checking ages of those who appear to be under the age of 18.  

'We encourage them to keep up the good work.  As for the premise where a sale was made we will work with them and encourage them to be more vigilant in the future.'

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards, said: 'We continue to work closely with the police to ensure that supervisors and licensees in all types of licensed premises have effective systems in place to prevent underage sales.

'We try and make sure that every member of staff responsible for alcohol sales is prepared to challenge youngsters to prove their age. In these instances, all the business had to do was ask the child's age to avoid making a sale.'

Anyone with concerns over premises in their area selling alcohol to under-age people, contact the police on 08452 777444 (non-emergencies only), or to report underage sales anonymously call the Trading Standards Confidential Hotline on 01392 381380.