A PUB in Southampton has been banned from selling alcohol for five days after booze was sold to two teenagers.

Hampshire Constabulary has issued a closure notice to The Rockstone in Bevois Valley.

The pub has accepted the order and therefore will not be allowed to sell alcohol between noon on August 2 and noon on August 7.

The police say the pub failed two underage test purchase operations where staff sold alcohol to 16-year-olds.

In a statement, owners Rockstone Cherry Ltd said: "Due to an error in training and administration The Rockstone will not be permitted to sell alcohol between 12:00 on Tuesday 2nd August 2016 and 12:00 on Sunday 7th August 2016.

"We will be offering food and a selection of non-alcoholic beer and soft drinks during this period.

"As stated above, we are prohibited from serving alcohol after failing two police spot checks based on the ‘Challenge 25’ policy.

"On each occasion the member of staff who failed the spot check was fined £90.

"On the second occasion Rockstone management took the decision to dismiss the employee who failed the spot check.



"As with all outlets selling alcohol and on strict advice from the local licensing authority, The Rockstone operates a strict Challenge 25 policy and all our staff have been trained to request proof of identity from all people ordering alcoholic beverages who appear to be under 25 years of age.

"These recent occasions were the first and only occasions that we have failed a spot check since we opened in 2011.

"The Rockstone is a welcoming, family-friendly gastropub that primarily sells food and premium alcoholic drinks to an audience largely falling in the 25-34 age range.

"We do not condone or encourage under-age drinking. We have never targeted young drinkers or encouraged a binge drinking culture in any way.

"To show how much we understand the harm cause by alcohol, the pub has made donations to Alcohol Concern - a small independent charity that is committed to reducing harm from alcohol-related problems and Board in the City - our neighbours and a not-for-profit charity.

"Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may cause to customers."