Three to Four in Western Road, Brighton and Mesopotamia in York Place, Brighton, were both caught after the police and trading standards officers organised ‘test purchases’ with 16-year-old volunteers. Both were caught selling alcohol to children on three separate occasions. Councillor Denise Cobb, chairman of Brighton & Hove’s Licensing Committee, said, “This licensing authority considers the selling of alcohol to children as extremely serious and those who consistently flout the laws are likely to end up losing their licence.
“When these two premises come back into operation there will be extra conditions to make sure staff are trained in what to do when young people attempt to buy alcohol. The committee recommends that all licensees should work with a suitable ‘proof of age’ scheme and take reasonable steps to prevent under age sales.”
Other conditions include installing CCTV to record sales and to keep written records of all sales refused so that both shops can prove they are not selling alcohol to children. Mesopotamia is also required to have someone who can speak English on the premises.