what is the law on a 15yr old working.

[its_me_baby]

what it is we have a problem with youths drinking by my house they purchase the alcahol from a local shop that employs a 15yr old are there laws against them employing her.
She is in school and works till 9pm she also serves fags and beers behind the till which im sure is illegal am i right.
Who do i contact them 2 report them

[sammy snake]

She is allowed to serve them as long as she is supervised by someone who is over 18. That supervisor is supposed to authorise every sale that she makes that involves alcohol or cigarettes.

I have no idea about legal working hours for 15 year olds.

[plowter]

No one under school leaving age (16 years old) can be employed in work other than light work. The local authority where you live may also have some extra rules, called by-laws, about the employment of children and young people in your area.

If the child is 16 or 17, the licensee must not employ a child for the sale or consumption of alcohol, unless the work you do is part of an approved training scheme. If the licensee does employ a child in these circumstances the licensee who will be committing an offence.

Contact local authority trading standards.

[Buenchico]

Plowter is out of date regarding minors selling alcohol. (The rules changed with the 2003 Licensing Act).

As Sammy states, minors can serve alcohol (both in shops and in pubs) as long as each sale is individually approved by the licensee (or by an adult to whom the licensee has given permission to approve such sales). That's why, in stores like Asda and Tesco, you'll see young check-out operators seeking permission for alcohol sales from adult collegues. As stated, every sale has to be specifically authorised. The licensee can't give blanket permission for a young person to sell alcohol.

However, it's illegal to employ any young person, of school age, without a permit from the local education authority. A permit will only be granted if the LEA is satisfied that the work is of a suitable nature and meets the statutory requirements regarding the hours worked. A 15-year old may not work more than 12 hours per week during term time. She is limited to a maximum of 2 hours per day on school days. She may not work after 7.00pm, even during school holidays:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/FamilyIssu esAndTheLaw/ChildrensRights/DG_4002945

Breaches of the rules, regarding the sales of cigarettes and alcohol by minors, should be reported to your local Trading Standards department. (Unless you live in an area under a unitary authority, look for the phone number under the name of your county council, not the the district council).

Breaches of the rules regarding child employment should be referred to the local LEA. (Once again, the phone number will be listed under the name of your county council or unitary authority. Ask for the 'educational welfare' department).

Chris

[kujawski]

Hi,

sorry i thought i was the only one, the way i got rid of them , was for 5 days every evening to walked past the alleyway by the side of my house and dropped a couple of stink bombs, sometimes a whole packet of 5.
(ok it didnt smell that bad when i closed the windows) but after a week of the same smell they soon moved away to another part of the street.

[loonytunes]

There are clear issues of illegal sales of alcohol, whoever has sold it at the shop. The responsibility under the licence must be investigated by the local Licensing Section of your Council who can implement test purchasing with Trading Standards and the Police. It may just require a word in the ear of the licensee by the Licensing Officer. You and others nearby can ask for a review of the Licence, or even get the shop closed down, and get stronger conditions imposed if nothing else works. Once the underage sales are dealt with, probably quickly and informally, the problem will probably go away.