People who buy alcohol for people under-age drinkers are facing a £5,000 fine.

In an initiative between police and retailers, so called proxy purchasers will either be given an on-the-spot £80 Penalty Notice for Disorder, or a court summons which could lead to a more hefty fine.

The initiative has come from ARM (Alcohol Retail Meetings), set up by the Malling neighbourhood policing team in March. Its members come from shops in the borough of Tonbridgeg and Malling that sell alcohol.

It aims to reduce the sale of alcohol to people under 18 years old and operate a system of good practice where shops keep each other informed and display posters to warn shoppers.

PC Mark Beresford, from Kent Police, said: “ARM’s aim is to stamp out proxy purchasing as this would help to reduce anti-social behaviour and protect young people. Young people who become intoxicated through alcohol consumption can make themselves vulnerable by taking risks or behaving in a way that they would not do if sober.”