A tough new crackdown will see adults who buy alcohol for under-age drinkers in the Braintree district face fines of up to £5,000.

Braintree police's new blitz on binge drinking and anti-social behaviour was announced today following the introduction of extended licensing hours.

Officers have adopted a nationwide poster campaign which will target offenders over the Christmas and New Year period.

The aim is to stop adults buying alcohol for people under 18 years old.

The poster warns that under the new licensing laws, adults buying alcohol on behalf of someone under 18 - known as a proxy purchase - could face an £80 fixed penalty fine.

They could even be taken to court and face a maximum fine of £5,000.

The poster will be displayed in 140 off-licence shops in the division, which includes Braintree, Halstead, and Witham.

Braintree divisional licensing officer Steve Sparrow said: "The poster gives a clear warning to anyone who is misguidedly trying to help a young person get their hands on alcohol."

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Published Wednesday, November 30, 2005

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