As a trader or business owner you are responsible for ensuring that you and your staff do not engage in underage sales.
Training
- Ensure all staff are trained in the sale of age restricted products
- Keep written records of the training you have provided to staff (sign and date these records)
- Review all staff training on a regular basis and provide re-training to staff where necessary
Refusals record
- Keep a refusals book to record refusals made by staff (noting the date, details of refused person, and reason of refusal)
- Ensure that a manager or senior person reviews the refusals book regularly to ensure it is being completed (and take corrective action where it isn't being completed)
ID policy
- Consider adopting a "No ID, no sale" policy requiring staff to ask everyone who looks underage for proof of age before a sale
- Implement a "Challenge 21" or "Challenge 25" (PDF, 34KB) policy to make it easier for staff to identify underage purchases
- Advertise clearly (PDF, 100KB) that you will be asking for identification from those who look underage
Proof of age
Suffolk Trading Standards support 3 main types of proof of age identification:
- photo driving licenses
- passports
- PASS cards bearing the PASS hologram
When you are checking identification:
- take the ID from the customer (don't examine it from a distance)
- take the ID out of any holder it may be in - this will often show up poorly made fake cards
- see if it is flimsy or too rigid - this could indicate a photocopy or ID that has been taped over
- make sure that the person in front of you is the same as in the photograph
- take note of whether the ID is a valid or provisional driving license, a National Identity Card or European Driving Permit
- read the date of birth carefully (you can also ask the customer to tell you - there is a good chance they will struggle if they are lying)
- see if the card has a swipe strip on the back (if it does, it is unlikely that this is a genuine ID card as no UK ID cards have strips on them)
- take your time, even if you are busy
Business Companion provides a
guide to underage sales. it covers the age restrictions that apply to the sale of certain products and services, including alcohol, tobacco, blades, solvents and sunbeds, as well as offering advice on how to prevent underage sales.
