 The council says it is 'unacceptable' to sell alcohol to under-18s |
An undercover operation by trading standards chiefs in Anglesey has found that some shops are still prepared to sell alcohol to underage children. Out of 50 premises visited by a 14-year-old volunteer, five were willing to break the law without asking his age or for identification.
Anglesey Council is urging businesses to respect the law.
Underage drinking has been cited as a cause of anti-social behaviour on the streets.
On Friday, the Home Office revealed that more than half the pubs and a third of off-licences targeted during a summer crackdown on underage drinking sold alcohol to under-18s.
Chief Trading Standards Officer for Anglesey, David Riley, stressed: "Selling alcohol to anyone under 18 is illegal and completely unacceptable.
"Underage drinking is one of the main causes of the anti-social behaviour seen on our streets.
"My officers will use their powers to crackdown on those flaunting the law and selling alcohol to youngsters under 18.
"The vast majority of off-licences do act responsibly and we're urging others to respect the law, because it simply isn't worth the risk if you get caught out."
Formal investigations will be carried out into the incidents on the island.
Those found guilty of supplying alcohol to underage children could lose their licence and face a fine of up to �1,000 for each offence.
Public protection portfolio holder at Anglesey Council, Councillor Hefin Thomas, said, "Despite these five incidents, the overall results of these recent alcohol surveys are encouraging and we're seeing an improvement every year.
 Five shops out of 50 agreed to sell the 14-year-old beer on Anglesey |
"Trading standards officers will continue with the authority's programmed surveys and it's our aim to dramatically reduce the number of underage sales on the island."
The council's senior enforcement officer Martin Wyn Jones added: "This survey is just one of a number we conduct every year as part of our strategy to prevent underage sales of various products including cigarettes, fireworks, lotteries and videos.
"We also work closely with other agencies such as the police in order to tackle the wider problems of underage drinking."
The Home Office's sting operation found that, of 1,825 premises targeted, 51% of licensed premises and 32% of off-licences sold alcohol to under-18s.
The joint Home Office and police push led to 4,000 on-the-spot fines.
Home Secretary David Blunkett, in Plymouth on Friday to report on the operation, said pubs and off-licences which broke the law faced stiffer penalties.
Officers arrested 5,764 people and confiscated alcohol from more than 9,500 adults and under-18s.
Mr Blunkett said he recognised the "good work" done by many in the industry but would be writing to warn establishments that continued to sell to minors.
Ministers said the crackdown, which ran from Thursday to Sunday evenings through July and August, will be repeated at regular intervals.
Officers also visited more than 30,500 premises this summer in 92 communities across England and Wales, of which 4% were found to have committed an offence.
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Underage drinking is one of the main causes of the anti-social behaviour seen on our streets 
