As a result of new government measures due to come into effect next month, pubs could face a £10,000 fine or closure for three months for selling alcohol to underage drinkers.
The measures are part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act which became law last year and are thought to be introduced on April 16th (Good Friday).
The measures mean that any premise license holder found selling to customers under the age of 18 on three occasions or more within the space of three months risks having to pay a maximum penalty of £10,000 or having their license suspended for up to three months.
James Hilton, licensee at the Horseshoe in Derbyshire, told the Publican: "We would lose our business if we were shut down for three weeks, let alone three months."
"These measures are extreme – it's sometimes very difficult to qualify a person's age and some use fake IDs. It's just another government stealth tax," he added.
Licensees are advised to insure against risks and make sure that all staff are trained to avoid serving minors.
