Underage test sales purchasing reveals mixed results

Cigarette and alcohol purchases were recently attempted by volunteer teenagers, accompanied by officers of the service, to test retailers’ willingness to sell these age-restricted items to volunteers under the age of 18.

In Oswestry, Ellesmere and Wem, a 16-year-old female volunteer visited eight shops in an attempt to purchase cigarettes and was refused on each occasion, with all except one business requiring the production of a proof of age card, as recommended by the council.

However, from 11 visits made in Whitchurch, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Bridgnorth and Albrighton, the same girl and, separately, a 16-year-old boy, were able to purchase alcoholic drinks in five shops without any challenge to their age. Some of the shops that sold were supposedly operating a ‘Challenge 25’ policy.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s service manager for safer and stronger communities within public protection, said:

“Whilst we are pleased with the high level of challenges and therefore refusals in those shops where we attempted to purchase cigarettes, we are extremely disappointed that almost half of the shops sold alcohol to our volunteers; the fact that some were claiming to operate under the Challenge 25 principle gives us a particular cause for concern.

“Fixed Penalty Notices have been arranged through the Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams for those individuals who have made the sales and written warnings will be issued to all the business owners.

“In one case, where there have now been two consecutive sales, further enquiries are underway with a view to determining whether formal enforcement action and/or a licence review is appropriate. Each shop that has sold will be subject to further test-purchasing attempts. On a positive note, each retailer who refused to sell will receive written confirmation congratulating them that their staff took the right steps in challenging for proof of age and refusing to sell.”