OFF WITH THEIR LICENCE! - ISHERWOOD AND DONALDSON

11.00.55am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Jun 2005

Off-Licensees who continue to sell alcohol to under age youths in Manchester should be stripped of their licence according to Burnage Councillors Rod Isherwood and Iain Donaldson.

New laws will pass the control of alcohol licenses in the City from the Magistrates to the City Council in November, and the Liberal Democrat Councillors on the Social Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee have called for tough action against rogue traders. Cllr Isherwood drew the

committee's attention to the fact that many of the recent prosecutions were of small traders and expressed the hope that "the big boys will also be checked out."

Cllr Donaldson stated, "If a licensee is a regular offender then they should lose their licence. The fines that have been imposed in recent years have clearly not been sufficient to deter some offenders from continuing to sell to underage youths."

Following the Liberal Democrat intervention, the Social Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee will review the City Council's policy on Off-licenses prior to it coming into force in November.

Cllr Isherwood added, "I welcome the fact that Labour have taken on board this important Liberal Democrat initiative."

ends.......

for further information contact Cllr Isherwood on 234 3002 or Cllr

Donaldson on 0795 848 3281