Combat under age sales at your premises

If your premise trades alcohol there's always a risk that staff could sell alcohol to children. Staff training is vital and should include the Challenge 21 proof of age scheme; use of till prompts, and knowledge of how to keep written records such as a refusal book. These systems help to protect children and your premises licence. All staff should be trained when they are recruited and given regular refresher training to make sure they remember to operate child protection systems.

In addition to training, it can be worth running a staff incentive scheme to reward staff who consistently check for proof of age, fill in the refusals log or pass test purchase operations run by the Police and Trading Standards. Incentives could include shopping vouchers, a cash reward or well-deserved afternoon off!

Failing test purchase operations puts children - and your premises licence - at risk, but a pass is a credit to the way in which the premises are managed and highlights that your staff are doing all they can to combat underage sales of alcohol to children.