Drug Testing in Licensed Premises

The widespread illegal use of cocaine in licensed premises nationally is well documented, and drug misuse within pubs and clubs in the Royal Borough is no different to the national trend. In an effort to eradicate, or at least minimise, the use of cocaine in our licensed premises, licensing officers will be visiting all clubs, bars and pubs in the borough, and testing surfaces for traces of cocaine. If traces are found, licensees will be informed and given advice on what measures they could introduce to combat cocaine misuse on their premises.

The borough’s licensing officers will be working with police officers from the Safer Neighbourhood teams whenever possible, but will also be carrying out these tests on their own where police support is not available. This initiative commenced in mid May 2008 and will carry on throughout the year.

In the first instance the aim is not to 'catch licensees out', but for officers to give advice to operators on methods to protect their premises from the illegal use of drugs. However, if traces are found and operators do not take the advice given to them, and further traces of cocaine are found on subsequent visits, they will risk having sanctions taken against them.