Underage sales

Licensing Act 2003 - protection of children from harm

Guidance on steps which should be taken to prevent the sale of alcohol to people under 18 years of age.

Signs

Use appropriate signage, such as, ‘If you look under 21 years you will be asked for ID’ and regularly check they are visible to staff and customers. Also, where appropriate, such as in a licensed grocers, use a till prompt for age restricted products, to remind staff to check age.

ID

Best practice is ‘No ID - No Sale’. Always check that the person using the ID is the person shown on it. Only accept photo ID which should be a passport, driving licence or proof of age card bearing the PASS logo as a hologram. None of these ensure the holder is 18; photo driving licences can be obtained at age 16, passports at any age and proof of age cards from age 12 so the date of birth must be checked to be sure the person is 18. Make sure staff know which Proof of Age cards you accept and do not accept any others.

Refuse to make a sale if photo ID is not available. Enter refusals in a refusal log book and periodically review it to ensure it is being used. It will provide evidence that youngsters are being turned away.

Staff training

Ensure staff are adequately trained and reminded on the law and how to deal with under age requests. Include practical staff training on how to check ID and how to refuse a sale. New and young staff may need closer supervision. Staff can be prosecuted for selling and they should be aware of this. Get them to sign to say that they have understood the training and keep it in your records. Don’t forget to inform new staff before they start and remind all staff of the requirements on a regular basis. Keep written records of these reminders. Keep up to date training records.

Monitoring

Periodically review any CCTV footage. Use ‘mystery shoppers’ to test your system. Refuse to sell to anyone you suspect of purchasing alcohol for persons underage. With an on-licence monitor people drinking on the premises who have not purchased alcohol, to exclude anyone underage who has had alcohol bought for them.