16/04/2013 - Permalink

Trader training will make alcohol “too hard to buy” for under 18s.

Related topics: Community

Bridgnorth traders have been invited to attend a series of training events in April and May 2013, to help prevent underage sales of alcohol and the harm that underage drinking can cause.

The sessions take place on Thursday 25 April 2013 from 2.30pm to 4.15pm, and Thursday 16 May 2013 from 9.30am to 11.15 am at Cantern Brook, Stanley Lane, Bridgnorth, and are being organised by Bridgnorth Community Alcohol Partnership (BCAP) and Sainsburys as part of the countywide project to tackle underage drinking.

The training sessions are free and will provide delegates with the tools and knowledge to address and challenge minors attempting to buy alcohol, and over 18s trying to buy alcohol on their behalf.  There will also be some key literature to take away, along with a useful log for monitoring any attempted underage purchases, not just for alcohol but other restricted products.

Bridgnorth Community Alcohol Partnership (BCAP) is one of several CAP groups set up in Shropshire thanks to £90,000 funding from Baroness Newlove, the Government’s Champion for Active, Safer Communities, to help give local neighbourhoods the tools to address underage drinking and associated anti-social behaviour.

It is recognised that the smaller shops may not have the facilities to deliver training to the same standard as the multi-nationals, and this event will reduce the gap as delegates are provided with training packs to take back to their stores.

Tom Brettell, BCAP co-ordinator, said:

“We’ve invited retailers across Bridgnorth, following feedback from off-licensed premises for a need for training in underage sales.

“We would like to thank our partners Sainsburys for kindly undertaking these training sessions free of charge.  This is a great opportunity for traders and enforcers to work together to help combat underage drinking and the problems associated with it.”

There are still some places available.  If you are an off-licensed retailer in Bridgnorth and would like to attend one of the training sessions, places can be reserved by contacting Tom Brettell on 01743 257861 or by emailing tom.brettell@shropshire.gov.uk.