Many Guangzhou restaurants and shops were not enforcing a rule banning the sales of alcohol to people under the age of 18 saying they were unaware of it, the Information Times reported.

The Ministry of Commerce banned shops and restaurants from selling beer, red wine, brandy, whisky and other spirits to minors Friday, but an investigation by the newspaper found it wasn't being well enforced or even known about.

Only one store had strict rules banning alcohol sales to minors among a few convenience stores near Jinan University, while the others said they would sell alcoholic beverages to anyone. There were always some student-like customers coming for beer, but usually not pupils or little kids, a shop assistant said.

He also doubted the regulation' feasibility. "Stop selling beers to minor? Impossible! If you were the boss, would you give up the chance of earning money?"

Stores and supermarkets on Beijing Road did not have any of the necessary signs stating "No alcoholic beverages sales to minors," the newspaper said.

In a cafe in Gangding, waiters served four bottles of beer to several middle school students. The waiter said he often saw students drink in the cafe, and he did not know the regulation and the cafe did not have a rule on the matter.

Several other shopkeepers also said that they did not know the regulation, but they did know alcoholic beverages should not be sold to minors.

"It is hard as many middle school students look like adults now. And it is not reasonable for us to check their ID cards," they said.

The country's law on prevention of juvenile delinquencies, issued in 1999, has banned selling alcoholic beverages to minors. However, it is hard to enforce as no punishment is stipulated for violators.

Most minors do not have ID cards, making it a problem to identify their ages.

(Shenzhen Daily July 5, 2005)