Youngsters from Caerphilly’s Youth Forum have teamed up with Caerphilly Council’s Trading Standards to help stop underage alcohol sales.
Members of the Youth Forum have been volunteering as ‘test purchasers’, working alongside Trading Standards and Gwent Police.
Caerphily County Borough’s Youth Champion, Cllr Mike Prew, arranged for the youngsters to take part in the test purchasing.
He said: “I am delighted that the young people involved with Caerphilly’s Youth Forum are so keen to get involved in helping to tackle the underage sale of alcohol in Caerphilly county borough. By becoming volunteer ‘test purchasers’ they are able to help make a real difference, and help ensure that alcohol does not get into the hands of under 18s.”
Over the last financial year, 4% of off licences that received a test purchase visit made a sale. The figure for ‘on’ licences, such as pubs, was higher, with 22% making a sale when visited by test purchase volunteers.