Racecourse keeps alcohol licence despite breaches

Between November 2010 and November 2011, the venue was caught out five times selling alcohol to children as young as 15 by trading standards test purchasers.
The company was hauled before West Berkshire Council's licensing committee earlier in the month to plead their case. And to appease the authorities the racecourse appeared at the meeting offering a a further set of conditions for it to adhere to.
These included introducing a second age identification procedure, even though it already has age verification scheme Challenge 25 in place – where customers aged 18 to 25 are given a wristband to wear once they have proved their age to make the bar staff ’s jobs easier.
It also agreed to carry out internal test-purchasing exercises at a minimum of four race days or large one-off events, introducing bar spotters to monitor the queues for customers and more training for third-party contractors and permanent staff.
These conditions were subsequently agreed to by the licensing committee of the district council.
Managing director at Newbury Racecourse, Stephen Higgins (pictured), said: "We had proposed a number of amendments to our license which have been accepted by West Berkshire Council, in order to strengthen the challenge 18 to 25 policy already in force at the racecourse.
"We had previously introduced a 18-25 wristband policy, strictly implemented, to identify those on the racecourse who are not legally able to purchase alcohol.
"We are the only venue in Berkshire who have introduced this voluntary policy and reflects our desire to ensure the law is adhered to by our visitors, who number over 300,000 per year."