ACS

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman was written to Home Secretary Alan Johnson seeking clarification of his comments on BBC television that “irresponsible corner shops” are the source of alcohol for underage drinkers.

In his letter Mr Lowman says: “This kind of lazy stereotyping of legitimate businesses, which continue to provide an invaluable community service is unacceptable. Singling out of local shops in this way directly contradicts Government enforcement figures that show that the problem is no more prevalent in local shops than in supermarkets or pubs or elsewhere.”

“If retailers of any kind are found to be selling to under age people, the powers exist under the Licensing Act 2003 and other legislation to remove their licence and impose other sanctions. Errant retailers deserve to be punished in this way, but our entire sector of 50,000 shops and over a quarter of a million employees does not deserve public condemnation when your own evidence shows they are not worthy of singling out on this issue.”

Mr Lowman explained the figures: “The test purchase results of all Government co-ordinated enforcement campaigns show that the off licence sector failure rate has reduced from 31% in 2004 to 14% in 2007, while on-licences (pubs and clubs) recorded failure rates of 45% in 2004 declining to 18% in 2007, and did not record a lower failure rate in any single campaign over this time period. In 2005 the only time that the data within the off licence sector was broken down it was the smaller shops and off licences that performed better than supermarkets.”