Underage sales exercise tests Shropshire businesses

Shropshire Council’s trading standards service has given a cautious welcome to the results of a two-day underage sales test purchasing exercise in the county.

Cigarette and alcohol purchases were attempted by volunteer teenagers accompanied by officers of the service this week (June 2012).

In Shrewsbury, 12 visits to shops were undertaken, and a 17-year-old female volunteer was challenged for proof of age in 10 of them.  Two sales of cigarettes took place without challenge.  In a similar exercise conducted last year, five sales had been made and all the shops that had sold during the previous exercise refused to sell to the volunteer on this occasion.

Alcohol purchases were attempted in 10 shops and off-licences in Shifnal and Albrighton, and the 16-year-old male volunteer was challenged in all the premises.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s trading standards manager, said:

“We are extremely pleased with the high level of challenges for both our volunteers, and this is a significant improvement over the disappointing result for the cigarette sales exercise last year.  We are encouraged that none of the five Shrewsbury shops that sold in October 2011 sold again, showing that staff have become much more aware of the need to challenge customers who appear under 25. 

“Given the high level of challenges elsewhere, the two sales which occurred are disappointing, and once investigations are completed, we will be working with the businesses concerned to ensure they are fully aware of the possible consequences of selling tobacco to children.

“It goes without saying that the many challenges for alcohol sales in the east of the county show that retailers are remaining vigilant, and we will be writing to the businesses who challenged our volunteer to congratulate them on their actions.”

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection, added:

“Test purchasing exercises are conducted on a regular basis throughout the county by trading standards officers, and any information received from the general public, police, and other partner agencies about possible underage sales concerns is acted upon whenever possible.  I’m very pleased that staff in the vast majority of the businesses challenged the two volunteers who attempted to buy age-restricted products on this occasion.”