Putney Business Backs Training To Prevent Underage Sales

Provided by council & Wandsworth PCT

Hudson’s store, in Putney's Riverside Quarter, Point Pleasant, proved its commitment to preventing illegal underage sales by sending twelve employees on the training course. In total, 35 sales staff from 14 businesses in Wandsworth have attended a session. 

Yogesh Mehta, from Hudson’s, said:
“As a local, independent retailer operating three convenience stores across the borough, the sale of alcohol and tobacco is an important part of our business.  Like many small businesses, our staff have had problems in the past in establishing that purchasers are over 18, so we were pleased to be able to send them on this course.

“The training doesn’t just deal with the law on age restricted goods; it also gives positive advice on setting up procedures to prevent illegal sales and dealing with the conflict that can sometimes occur when a sale is refused due to not having adequate proof of age. I would thoroughly recommend other small businesses to attend the training.”

Pictured above congratulating Hudson’s for signing up for the course, Councillor Jonathan Cook, Wandsworth Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said:
“This initiative is an excellent example of how staff in Trading Standards are seeking to work with businesses in Wandsworth to help them to understand and comply with the law and to prevent problems in the future.  I should warn retailers who deliberately flout the law and endanger the health of young people that we will not hesitate to take enforcement action against them if necessary.”

Business owners and employees have been learning useful tactics such as how to appropriately challenge a purchaser’s age and refuse a sale if they do not have proof of age when trying to buy items such as alcohol and cigarettes.

The ‘Do You PASS?’ training courses, which are being delivered by the council in partnership with Wandsworth Primary Care Trust, have been specifically tailored for small retailers and accredited by the Trading Standards Institute.

A three hour-long course covers what products are age restricted, what the law requires of business and staff and who can be responsible for illegal sales. Those taking part then sit an exam at the end of the session.

Houda AlSharifi, director of public health for Wandsworth, said:
“Enforcement of the law preventing the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to children is an important part of the borough's tobacco control strategy.  Half of all people smoking today will die prematurely. In some cases smoking can cut between 20 and 25 years off life expectancy.

“I am very pleased that the Primary Care Trust has been able to support this work with Trading Standards to make this training accessible to local retailers.”

Any business interested in attending future training should contact the Trading Standards Service on 020 8871 7720 or email tradingstandards@wandsworth.gov.uk for more details.

May 9, 2012