Licensees warned as GCSE students celebrate results

Managers of bars and off licenses are being warned to look out for underage drinkers over the next few days when teenagers receive their GCSE results.

Many young people are expected to drink alcohol in celebration or commiseration, but, as underage drinkers, will they be recognised?

Chief Superintendent David Whitehouse, Area Commander of South Warwickshire said: At this time of the year we urge licensees to be particularly vigilant. Teenagers can look older and it can be quite difficult for somebody running a bar or pub to know if they are underage. The only way to be sure is to ask for approved identification such as PASS cards, driving licenses and passports.

Under-16s are drinking twice as much today as the same age-group 10 years ago. Police in Warwickshire are continuing to work closely with pubs, clubs and off-licences to curb this trend in a bid to tackle the knock-on effects of binge drinking on violence, damage and anti social behaviour.

Chief Superintendent Whitehouse warned youngsters they faced a fixed penalty notice with £80 fine or even a court appearance for being drunk and disorderly.

And he continued: Police and our partners in Trading Standards have implemented a number of initiatives to clamp down on underage drinking, including test purchases at off licenses with teenage volunteers and random checks on town centre clubs, pubs and bars.