Booze sold to several underage volunteers in the Derbyshire Dales

On Saturday night, officers and trading standards workers visited nine pubs and bars as part of a test purchase operation.

During the operation, six sales of alcohol were made to the underage volunteers

Sergeant Phil Bateman, of Derbyshire police, said: “I am extremely disappointed with the number of sales made to these young people.

“In Derbyshire we promote a scheme with all our licensed premises which is designed to promote an extra degree of vigilance and protection for bar and door staff to challenge those they believe look under 25-years-old as we all have differing opinions on who may look 18.

“We will be speaking to the licensed premises involved over the coming week and enforcement action will be taken against those who have failed.

“We will also be visiting pubs and bars across the Derbyshire Dales to ensure that they are confident in using the Challenge 25 protocol in order to comply with the sale of alcohol regulations.

“Follow up checks will be carried out over the next few months to ensure that the correct procedures are being followed and we also welcome any intelligence around pubs that are selling to underage people.”

Similar checks are being planned for the future.