Three licensed premises in Basingstoke town centre have been fined for selling alcohol to drunk people following an undercover operation.
Plain clothed officers visited licensed premises in the town centre on Saturday, December 11 to study people being sold alcohol while drunk.
Three members of bar staff in three separate premises were given £80 fixed penalty notices after being seen to serve drunks.
Since 2005, the Government has given police the power to fine staff on-the-spot in a bid to crack down on binge drinking.
Sergeant Olga Venner, from the Basingstoke town centre Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “Under Section 141 of the Licensing Act 2003, it is an offence to sell or attempt to see alcohol to a person who is drunk.
“This offence has been in existence for a long time but it is difficult to prove as it is a matter of opinion as to whether someone is too drunk to be served alcohol.
“The undercover officers were there to gather evidence of drunken behaviour that was so blatant that the bar staff should have been aware before serving them.
“This operation is just one of many we have planned as part of our work to reduce alcohol related crime within the town centre. We will use all the powers available to us to ensure those who break the law are dealt with robustly.”
