Responsible Alcohol Sales Campaign (RASC)
21 Nov 2007
This winter the Home Office will be running a ‘Responsible Alcohol Sales Campaign’ (RASC), targeted mainly at those who sell alcohol to drunks. This is illegal under the Licensing Act 2003.
Meeting at the Home Office (2.11.07)
RASC will run in the four weeks running up to Christmas; the 19th November – 23rd December. During this time Police Officers will target ‘problem’ off and on licenses, looking for staff who sell alcohol to ‘unequivocally’ drunk people. There is speculation that Officers will identify ‘problem premises’ according to past performance on TUSAC as well as the occurrence of anti-social behaviour in or near to the property. Police Officers will also be visiting premises over the period to raise awareness of the law and staff responsibility in relation to it.
Police Officers will conduct the operation in two ways;
Covert Operations – Police officers will enter a licensed premise covertly and watch staff to see if they sell alcohol to drunks. If they identify anyone selling to drunks then penalties include; a PND (Penalty Notice for Disorder), court prosecution or a review of the alcohol license.
POs will be able to return to the premises at a later date to issue a PND as this must be issued by a uniformed Police officer.
Dynamic Targeting – Police Officers (plain clothes or uniformed) will be able to follow drunks into a licensed premise to see if they are served alcohol by staff in the establishment. The Home Office representative said that this method “lends itself particularly well to off-license premises.”
The law states that it is illegal to ‘knowingly sell to a drunk person’ and the courts have defined drunks as people who have “drunk intoxicating liquor to the extent which affects self-control.”
Whilst this campaign will be conducted primarily in on-licenses, all licensed premises should be vigilant and ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the law.
Meeting at the Home Office (2.11.07)
RASC will run in the four weeks running up to Christmas; the 19th November – 23rd December. During this time Police Officers will target ‘problem’ off and on licenses, looking for staff who sell alcohol to ‘unequivocally’ drunk people. There is speculation that Officers will identify ‘problem premises’ according to past performance on TUSAC as well as the occurrence of anti-social behaviour in or near to the property. Police Officers will also be visiting premises over the period to raise awareness of the law and staff responsibility in relation to it.
Police Officers will conduct the operation in two ways;
Covert Operations – Police officers will enter a licensed premise covertly and watch staff to see if they sell alcohol to drunks. If they identify anyone selling to drunks then penalties include; a PND (Penalty Notice for Disorder), court prosecution or a review of the alcohol license.
POs will be able to return to the premises at a later date to issue a PND as this must be issued by a uniformed Police officer.
Dynamic Targeting – Police Officers (plain clothes or uniformed) will be able to follow drunks into a licensed premise to see if they are served alcohol by staff in the establishment. The Home Office representative said that this method “lends itself particularly well to off-license premises.”
The law states that it is illegal to ‘knowingly sell to a drunk person’ and the courts have defined drunks as people who have “drunk intoxicating liquor to the extent which affects self-control.”
Whilst this campaign will be conducted primarily in on-licenses, all licensed premises should be vigilant and ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the law.