Prague, Oct 22 (CTK) – The Czech police checked 7,000 people in 1,081 pubs and bars within the first phase of an extensive check focusing on the sale of alcohol and tobacco to children, and unveiled 592 offences and misdemeanours including 236 drunk children and juveniles under 18, Martin Hrinko said Thursday.
Hrinko, head of the riot police, said the “record-drunk” juvenile was a 16-year-old boy with 3.25 per mille of alcohol in his blood.
The massive checks started on October 9 and they are to continue by another two waves until the end of the year. By launching them, the police react to surveys saying that the number of children with an experience with alcohol has been rising in the Czech Republic.
Over 2,400 inspectors took part in the first phase of the check, Hrinko told journalists.
National anti-drug coordinator Jindrich Voboril said the check was unique because the inspectors included, apart from the police, people from the Czech Retail Inspection, firefighters, customs and sanitary officers, health workers and other authorities, who each checked the pubs and bars for shortcomings in their respective fields of responsibility.
A pub operator may be fined up to 5,000 crowns for the uncovered shortcomings.
A total of 137 fines were imposed within the check and proceedings on further misdemeanours are still underway. In addition, 45 suspected crimes have been investigated, all related to drug possession or the sale of alcohol to children.
After the checks are completed later this year, a report based on their results will be submitted to the government along with the recommendation on how to improve the situation.
The police announced the first phase of the check beforehand so that pub operators can prepare for it. The other two phases will not be heralded beforehand, Hrinko said.
“The next phase will start in the days to come,” he added.
