AN UNDER-AGE boy was able to buy booze from shopkeepers in an undercover police sting in Dorchester.

Police and crimefighters hit out after the investigation showed that alcohol was available to under-age drinkers in the town.

The 16-year-old boy was able to buy booze in five out of six off-licences - without ever being asked for proof of age.

In one shop the youth was even served by a 14-year-old, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of the law.

Dorset Police licensing officer Karen O'Donnell visited six premises in and around Dorchester to observe the 16-year-old.

She said he went to the counter on his own and was able to buy 18 cans of alcohol during a 45-minute period.

She said: "This is a 16-year-old boy who looks like a 16-year-old boy.

"Only one of the six premises asked for ID and that was only when a supervisor intervened. This is absolutely appalling. I did expect to find maybe one or possibly two stores selling alcohol to under-18s but I certainly didn't expect to find five out of six."

Licensees who are found guilty of selling alcohol to under-18s can be fined up to £500 and can lose their licence.

The sting comes just weeks after teachers were preparing to hold talks with pub operator Eldridge Pope in a bid to cut down on underage drinking in the town's nightspots.

The meeting was sparked by reports of students going on a booze-fuelled night out in Dorchester.

Coun Alan Beard, vice-chairman of Dorchester and District crime prevention panel, said under-age drinking was a growing problem.

He said one of the problems was the current proof of age schemes.

"There are cards that people can use to prove their age but people who are over 18 don't bother with them and those under 18 can obtain forgeries relatively easily. Nevertheless, the responsibility for serving is very much the concern of the retailers. They should insist on proof of age before serving."

Mr Beard said when retailers are prosecuted for under-age selling, magistrates need to look very carefully at the circumstances and impose a suitable punishment.

He said: "Magistrates should make the penalty fit the crime more. They should look at how much supervision there is in the shop, how the licensee educates and trains his staff, whether the alcohol is sold in a separate area.

"If the licensee disregards the rules, I think it is quite proper for them to lose their licence, even on a first offence."

Now prosecutions against the shops are being prepared.

Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester Police, said: "In addition to the court action we will be making follow-up visits to all these premises at some stage in the future. This is an issue we will not ignore."