The owner of a pub has been fined for allowing the sale of alcohol to a 14-year-old.
Thomas John Davies, of the Hafodyrynys Inn, Hafodyrynys, was taken to court after a 14-year-old was served with two bottles of vodka-based WKD Blue at the pub in February 2012.
The 14-year-old was a test purchaser was taking part in an operation by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards and Gwent Police.
Davies appeared at Caerphilly Magistrates Court on May 31 and admitted the offence of selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18, contrary to the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.
He was ordered to pay a fine of £265, together with prosecution costs to the council of £514 and a £15 victim surcharge.
The employee who served the child was dealt with immediately following the test purchase, and was issued with a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) of £80.
Cllr Dave Poole, cabinet member for community and leisure services said: “The irresponsible actions of Mr Davies as the owner of the premises have cost him dearly – almost £800 is a lot of money to have to part with for something which so easily could have been avoided if the correct process for asking for identification to check for age had been in place.
“I hope this hefty fine will act as a deterrent to the small minority who do not take their licensing responsibilities seriously.”
PC Jeanette Pearce said: “Gwent Police works very closely with the licensing trade but where we receive intelligence or concerns from the community that standards at a premises are not being maintained we will seek to prosecute with our colleagues from Caerphilly County Borough Council and Trading Standards.”