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Support for Retailers in the Fight Against Underage Sales
Posted on 15/01/2010
Community Services
The New Year brings improved support for businesses to help them in the fight against the sale of alcohol and other products to underage children.
Leicestershire Trading Standards has produced a new and improved trader advice pack providing clear and practical help on how to prevent underage sales. The pack includes proof of age law, provides a questionnaire to check staff understanding, practical advice on how to refuse sales and a supply of posters to display around a shop.
Free business seminars will also be held across the County, City and Rutland which are open to alcohol and tobacco retailers. The seminars are aimed at business owners, Designated Premises Supervisors, and persons with a managerial/supervisory role of staff that sell age restricted products. They provide an ideal opportunity to take advantage of training for business and employees at no cost to the business other than the time taken to attend.
Individuals and businesses that sell age restricted products illegally run the risk of a criminal investigation, which could result in a £5,000 fine, a criminal record and having their licence to sell alcohol reviewed.
David Bull, Head of Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards Service said: “We provide free help and support businesses throughout the year to help them to comply with the law. We aim to provide businesses with the skills and knowledge needed to prevent illegal sales. We will continue to make test purchases and take enforcement action against those who make illegal sales to children.”
If you have any information relating to illegal sales to children please report it confidentially to Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.”
Businesses in the County who would like a free pack of practical precautions, or for more information on the trader seminars contact the Trading Standards Business Advice Line on 0116 305 8000”.
Notes for Editors
1. All of the underage sales offences are strict liability meaning that the owner of a business doesn’t have to know they are doing something wrong to be guilty. However, this type of offence does have a statutory defence that where a person charged can show they have done everything reasonable they won’t be convicted. The packs give guidance about the type of steps a business can take to protect themselves.
2. Test purchase statistics in Leicestershire over the last 3 years:
Year Alcohol . Butane . Cigarettes . Knives . Fireworks . Spray Paint .A = Attempt
S = Sale
A S A S A S A S A S A S 09/10 12024
(20%)
72
(29%)
17816
(9%)
83
(38%)
0 0 0 0 08/09 15930
(19%)
62
(33%)
22320
(9%)
51
(20%)
0 0 0 0 07/08 28283
(29%)
82
(25%)
1456
(4%)
0 0 40
(0%)
73
(43%)
Contacts:
Trading Standards
- Graham Coe – Team Leader 0116 305 6547
- Karen Retallic – Senior Enforcement Officer 0116 305 6548
- Keith Regan – Unit Head 0116 305 6533