TOUGHER laws to protect workers selling alcohol were demanded yesterday following horrific attacks on staff.

Retail union Usdaw revealed several serious incidents in its campaign to gather support for legislation to give more protection to staff who are assaulted in relation to alcohol sales.

Among them is a landlord from Bolton, Lancashire. After refusing alcohol to an underage youth, he was attacked and kicked in the face, causing extensive cuts and bruising, when he later went out.

Police arrested the youth but let him off with a caution.

When a shopworker in Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, refused to serve a drunken customer alcohol, the man proceeded to kick and punch three members of staff before spitting in the store manager’s face.

Police were called and also gave him a caution.

A Plymouth nightclub doorman was hit with an empty champagne bottle by a customer wanting more alcohol. The assailant received a suspended sentence.

The government’s Criminal Courts and Justice Bill is currently under discussion in the House of Lords.

Usdaw and retail trade representatives are lobbying for support for an amendment which the union says would provide the protection needed — including stiffer sentences.

The union’s general secretary John Hannett said: “Staff in the pub, retail and hospitality trades are the first line of defence against unauthorised sales of alcohol and there is a real need to address the scourge of violence against these workers.

“We are concerned that the attackers are getting away with relatively lenient sentences.”