Age restricted sales pack - Introduction and Contents

Introduction

Most retailers know that certain products are classed as age-restricted to protect the health and wellbeing of the younger people in our community. Most retailers are also aware that the law imposes tough penalties on those who sell products to people who are too young to buy them. Even so, despite the threat of devastating consequences for their businesses, many retailers find the legislation complicated and tricky to apply.

This pack, which has been produced with the co-operation of local retailers, should reduce any confusion. It has 4 main aims:

·        It clarifies the legislation relating to age-restricted products. It explains what cannot be sold to younger people, why it must not be sold and what can happen to a retailer who breaks these rules.

·        It provides training materials that, if used well, will help safeguard you and your staff from the pitfalls of selling products to people who are too young to buy them

·        It contains information that will help you and your staff to establish the age of a potential customer. It offers guidance in the best practice for dealing with those customers who may become aggressive or abusive when they are refused a sale.

This resource pack will give you all the information that you need to avoid the consequences of illegally selling age-restricted products. Not only does it clarify the legislation, it explains why it is necessary to restrict the sale of these products by describing the effects that they can have on the health and wellbeing of younger people.

The advice in the pack is given gratuitously and without liability. The guidance is based on information supplied by partners and the Trading Standards Service's interpretation of the law. It will be reviewed if the law or other circumstances change and updated versions of this pack will be issued periodically.

Contents

Section A: What You Need to Know about Age-Restricted Products

This section details age-restricted products; the legislation that controls their sale and the reasons behind it, and the penalties that may be imposed on those who sell them illegally.

• Cigarettes & Tobacco Products.
• Alcohol.
• Solvents and Butane Gas Lighter Refills.
• Fireworks.
• Spray Paints.
• Knives
• Lottery Tickets and Instant Win Cards.
• Videos, DVDs and Games.
• Petrol.

Section B: Guidance for Owners and Licensees

This section offers information and guidelines to support retailers in implementing the legislation that relates to age-restricted products.

• Notices.
• Training and Supporting Your Staff.
• Training and Supporting Younger Staff.
• Avoiding Prosecution - Reasonable Precautions and Due Diligence.

Section C: Guidance for Staff

This section is designed to support retailers and their staff who deal with customers on a daily basis.

• Guidelines for Staff Selling Age-Restricted Products.
• Guidelines for Handling Refusals.
• Guidelines on Proof Of Age Schemes.

 Appendices

• Minimum Ages Card (MAC)
• Refusals Book and Card
• Training Records
• List of contacts

[Forward to next section]