Underage Sales
Why are under age sales a priority for Trading Standards?
I think there is a shop in my area selling alcohol to persons underage, are you the correct people to inform?
What are you doing about underage sales?
I am a retailer selling age-restricted products. What forms of ID are acceptable?
Is there an age limit for buying lighters or matches?
Why should I keep a refusals book?
Why are under age sales a priority for Trading Standards?
Age restricted goods can harm the young people or their peers, and can lead to anti-social behaviour in our communities.
Youngsters drinking in the local park can lead to noise, violence and leaving broken bottles on playing fields. Spray paints can be used to cover walls in graffiti. One sniff of butane lighter gas can kill. Cigarettes have longer-term health implications and fireworks being let off in public places and cause immediate danger to people and pets.
I think there is a shop in my area selling alcohol to persons underage, are you the correct people to inform?
Police deal with the on-licence trade (pubs and clubs) and Trading Standards deal with off licences. It is important you report your suspicions to the relevant enforcement agency, even if this is done anonymously.
See also: Underage Sales - Contact Us | Underage Sales Web Site
What are you doing about underage sales?
We advise businesses about their legal responsibilities and work with them to help them avoid selling age-restricted products to young people.
We also carry out test purchases, assisted by young people who, under the supervision of Trading Standards Officers, will attempt to buy age-restricted products.
Sales are investigated and they may result in cautions or prosecutions. Some sales of alcohol are dealt with by the issuing of a penalty notice of £80 by the Police.
See also: Underage Sales Web Site
I am a retailer selling age-restricted products. What forms of ID are acceptable?
Passports
Photographic Driving Licence
Proof Of Age Cards (i.e. Citizen card , Validate)
Birth certificates are not an acceptable method of proving a person's age. How do you know it is their birth certificate and does not belong to a brother/sister?
Be careful with driving licences as they can be issued when a person is 17 years old. Always look at the date of birth and check that the person is 18.
There are many different forms of "Proof Of Age" cards on the market, and although a large number of them are legitimate, it is wise for retailers to agree on which cards they will accept. This will mean that staff can become familiar with them and know what to look for when checking them. Whichever card(s) are chosen, ensure they carry the "PASS" hologram. The PASS hologram logo allows licensees and other retailers to know that it is a reliable and credible means of proof of age.
See also: Underage Sales - ID Cards | Underage Sales - Retailers Pack | Underage Sales Web Site
Is there an age limit for buying lighters or matches?
No, currently there is no minimum age for purchasing these products, however it would be advisable to adopt a voluntary store policy not to sell to persons under 16.
See also: Underage Sales - Retailers Pack | Underage Sales Web Site
Why should I keep a refusals book?
Keep a book/diary of when sales have been refused to an 'underage' person. This helps to show that you have a system in place and that you regularly check.
It is important to keep this book filled in each day or after each shift. It will help staff identify if someone is attempting to buy age restricted goods on a regular basis and identify if particular staff members are not aware of the procedure.
Business owners, managers, supervisors need to check the record is maintained and is available at point of sale.
If one or two members of staff are making little or no entries into the refusals book, you should question why? If everybody else within your shop is refusing people, why aren't they? There may be an explanation for the lack of entries, (i.e. they always work midweek mornings when it is less likely for underage kids to try and buy alcohol) but you should make sure you question any staff in this position.
See also: Underage Sales - Retailers Pack