Law breaking pubs closed

01/08/2012

Three pubs in Pwllheli are to shut for three days after they sold alcohol to underage drinkers.

The three pubs have been served a notice to shut for 72 hours, following recent test purchase operations in which alcohol was sold to people under 18, on two separate occasions within a three month period.

North Wales Police and Gwynedd Council’s Licensing Department work in partnership to enforce the Licensing Act legislation and as part of this process, regular test purchasing exercises are carried out in order to prevent and reduce under age drinking in the area.

The Police completed two test purchasing operations in licensed premises in the Pwllheli area during May and July 2012, during which a number of premises were found to sell alcohol to people under 18 and were dealt with under the licensing enforcement process. Those selling the alcohol were also issued with £80 Fixed Penalty Notices.

The Mitre, The Castle and Rehab have been given the choice to close for a period of time as an alternative to criminal prosecution under Section 169A(2) of the Licensing Act 2003, for repeatedly selling alcohol to people under the age of 18.

The Castle will be shut from 5pm on Friday 3^rd August until 5pm on Monday 6^th August 2012.

The Mitre will be closed from 5pm on Friday 10^th August until 5pm on Monday 13th August 2012.

Rehab has accepted the closure and will close from 5pm on Thursday 16^th August until 5pm on Sunday 19^th August 2012.

Sgt Steve Edge commented “This positive action is an example of the way in which the police and our partners are keen to enforce the licensing legislation to achieve the specific objective ofprotecting children from harm and reducing alcohol related crime and disorder on the streets of Pwllheli.”

“The closure of these three premises is also an example of us working in partnership with the licensees, who accepted the closure notices.”