Youngsters are making test purchases of alcohol for officials

Official figures show that children asked to buy drink in shops by Trading Standards officers are successful almost half the time.

In Rottingdean, East Sussex, teenagers working alongside Trading Standards have been making "test purchases".

Last week, a 15-year-old boy tried to purchase an alcopop in the town's Co-op store.

The sales assistant, who South East Today later found out was only 17, was given the go-ahead by the store manager to accept the purchase, only to be stopped by Trading Standards officers, who said it was a criminal offence.

As a result of the investigation the Co-op was formally cautioned by the police.

'Error of judgement'

The company has now voluntarily stopped selling alcohol after 1600 BST from Thursday to Saturday in its Rottingdean store and one other for the next six weeks.

In a statement the Co-op said: "The supervisor considered the customer to be old enough to legally buy alcohol.

"This was an error of judgement. Our records show five customers had already been refused alcohol in Rottingdean that day because they were unable to provide proof of age.

It is a criminal offence to sell alcohol to under-age drinkers

"All relevant staff are regularly trained with our procedures, (and) our staff will challenge any customer who does not look over 21."

On the same night, the Mackie Stores in Patcham also sold alcohol to the 15-year-old boy.

The shop manager later said she was shocked and surprised the sale had taken place, and said she did not condone under-age drinking.

Figures from Trading Standards show 44 per cent of test purchases in the South East since April resulted in an illegal sale.

In Brighton the figure for under-age sales from off licence chains rose to 57 per cent.