Alcohol mistakenly given to scouts by Newhaven Rotary Club.

An East Sussex Rotary Club accidentally gave alcohol to teenage scouts.

The event occurred at a free Christmas celebration hosted by the Rotary Club of Newhaven Coast West on December 7 at Telscombe Parish Hall, Tyedean Road.

Goody bags were distributed at the yearly celebration for Peacehaven, Telscombe, and Newhaven’s elderly citizens.

The rotary club believed the gift bags included a non-alcoholic canned beverage.

A scouting spokeswoman said that five Explorer scouting, aged 14 to 18, each received a goody bag as a thank you for working at the event.

However, shortly after the event ended, the Scout leader discovered that the cans actually contained alcoholic beverages. The parents of the five scouts were alerted promptly.

The scouts’ parents were informed shortly after (Image: Google)

A representative for the Rotary Club of Newhaven Coast West stated:

“The scout leader discovered the error at 5 p.m. on December 7, after the event had ended at approximately 4.50 p.m.” “All parents of the young people involved were notified by 5.30 p.m. and asked to check the contents of the gift bags, which they all agreed to do.”

“All parents of these young Explorer Scouts have been called again, and all have denied having any issues with how the Rotary Club or Scout leaders handled the situation.

“The unfortunate mistake occurred at the conclusion of the free Christmas party that we offer annually to local elderly residents of Peacehaven, Telscombe, and Newhaven.”

According to a Scouts spokesman, “Five Explorer Scouts, aged 14 to 18, volunteered at a senior citizens’ party hosted by the local rotary club.”

“As a thank you for your assistance, each scout received a goody bag to go home. “This bag was donated by the local Rotary Club, and they thought it contained a non-alcoholic can of drink.

 

“The rotary swiftly discovered their mistake and phoned the scouts to inform them that the can of drink provided contained alcohol

.”The scouts took immediate action and texted the parents of each child, letting them know that the cans contained alcohol and had been supplied incorrectly by rotary.”

The representative went on to say, “The scouts would never intentionally allow a young person to have access to alcohol while in their care.”

“We have voiced our concerns to the rotary organisers about their error, although we understand they were well-intentioned.

“All they wanted to do was to thank the young people for their kind actions in helping out at a senior citizen party.”

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