Nigel Liddel, Licensing Officer at John Street Police Station in Brighton said, ‘As general guidance to bar staff, individuals need to ask themselves, how much they earn for a shift? And would they want to lose all of it and more paying a fixed penalty notice fine of £80?'

That’s the fine that bartenders, not the management, will incur if they serve people with alcohol who are drunk or under the age of 18. As a member of staff of a licensed premise, the bartender has a responsibility to ensure that they uphold this law. If not, staff could personally be given a fixed penalty notice of £80

Mr Liddel went on to say, ‘It is also an offence to serve anyone who is purchasing alcohol on behalf of someone else who is drunk, again, you personally could face a fine of £80 and the customer could face a fine of up to £5,000 for proxy purchasing.’

But don’t worry, these simple facts should help you to stay out of trouble.

• Do not serve anyone with alcohol who is drunk.

• Do not serve anyone who is purchasing alcohol for someone else who is drunk.

• Do not serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18.

• Do not serve anyone who is purchasing alcohol for someone under the age of 18.

• Do not be afraid to refuse to serve a customer – other staff will back you up and where necessary, remove the person from the premises.

• Door supervisors (where applicable) should not be allowing people into a licenced premise who are drunk, but watch out for those who become drunk in your premises.

• Do not rely on someone else to be looking out for people who are drunk or under the age of 18, you have the responsibility!

For more information about Policing in Sussex, log on to http://www.sussex.police.uk/