Children sold alcohol over phone

Five out of seven firms failed to ask for ID

Underage drinkers in Liverpool are being sold alcohol over the phone by home delivery companies who fail to check their customers' ages.

Trading Standards officers in the city found that five out of seven businesses sold alcohol to children under 18 without asking for identification.

One seller even gave out a free gift including a cigarette lighter with "cannabis" written on it and a condom.

The businesses now face licence reviews and possible prosecution.

They could be fined up to £5,000 if convicted of offences under the Licensing Act.

Everyone knows that kids will try and buy alcohol Trading standards manager Allan Auty

Liverpool City Council's executive member for community safety, councillor Dave Antrobus, said: "These results are very disturbing as they show just how easy it is for young people to get hold of alcohol.

"It's worrying that one of the sellers was giving out so-called 'goody bags' encouraging smoking and, as one of the girls was only 15, underage sex.

"These reckless firms could now lose their license. Our trading standards department will be asking the Licensing Committee to review the seller's licenses and consider what action can be taken."

Trading standards manager, Allan Auty, was involved in the undercover investigations.

He said: "These undercover will continue in the future to send the message to traders that we will not tolerate this activity in Liverpool.

"Everyone knows that kids will try and buy alcohol so it's important that our team does everything it can to make sure businesses are acting legally."