Wokingham Borough Council community safety and licensing departments are teaming up with Thames Valley Police to promote the message "IT’S 18 FOR A REASON".

As the warmer weather approaches, alcohol related anti-social behaviour, particularly within parks and other open spaces, starts to increase.

Over the next few weeks Thames Valley Police community support officers and officers from the borough council will be visiting premises across the borough to deliver posters and information for licensed premises to display. They are also working with local schools, and members of the Pubwatch scheme who are keen to support the message; and will be targeting individual licensed premises to reduce the number of proxy sales where this is a known problem.

Many people are already well aware that it is an offence for people under the age of 18 to purchase alcohol. However, what many people don’t realise is that they are breaking the law if they buy alcohol for under 18s. This offence is known as proxy sales and is subject to an £80 on the spot fine or a court appearance with a maximum fine of £5000.

Members of the public are also being urged to support the police and council by reporting any incidences of either young people buying alcohol or adults buying it for them, by contacting the police using the 101 non-emergency telephone number.

Stephanie Meyrick, Wokingham Borough Council community safety officer, said: "Raising awareness about proxy sales is important because people, particularly younger adults, think there is no harm in buying alcohol for children and young people. But the simple fact is that they don’t realise the impact it has on the behaviour of these individuals and the harm it can cause to them and their families and friends."