Shutting the door after the horse has bolted

Eleven pubs in Denbighshire are seeking training in underage sales prevention after they failed up to two or three test purchasing operations recently. This is the equivalent to buying a house alarm after you've been burgled.

Following a test purchasing purge on underage sales in Denbigh and Ruthin eleven pubs were faced with a weekend closure or prosecution of up to £20,000 in fines. All pubs opted, not surprisingly, for the closure which took place last weekend.

Bar staff at the eleven pubs served alcohol directly to under 18s, although the reports don't mention whether they were challenged for ID at any time. What is known is that 35 out of 47 members of staff had not had any training in underage sales prevention.

It's easy to think that these stings won't happen to you but the solution is so cheap and easy to implement: Holders of the NCPLH or Designated Premises Supervisors certificate will have had training in this area. In turn they should be training and coaching staff to challenge customers who look as though they may be under 21 or even 25 years old. They should also record a note every time they challenge someone to demonstrate their due diligence.

Meanwhile there are half day courses and, very soon, E-Learning courses available through CPL Training specifically designed to address this issue from as little as £30 per person.

Surely it's a small price to pay to protect you from the loss of a weekend's takings?