Ideas for a Clear Store Policy
There’s a lot more to getting it wrong than losing your business for a fixed period – the consequences may be much more damaging into the future too. Consider for a moment.
- The reduction of existing sales across your whole store – no ability to sell cigarettes (probably 30% of your total business) will mean less regular ‘cigarette led’ customers into your store, losing any/all additional purchases – newspapers, magazines, confectionery etc.
- The embarrassment. You will have become a proven ‘irresponsible’ retailer.
- A possible lack of future business – customer distrust built up through parental disapproval of conviction. They may advise other parents and customers, encouraging them to a shop at a competitor store to yours.
- Your shop and you being continually monitored by trading standards.
By understanding the legislation and how it impacts on you AND by using the training tips, advice and support this site can offer, you can get it right from the start.
- Set the standard from the beginning – display statutory and ‘challenge’ notices prominently, making it clear that you are actively seeking to prevent underage sales.
- By doing so, your regular customers will know that you take your business seriously and are actively upholding the law, encouraging loyalty.
- Train staff thoroughly, preventing accidental sales when you are busy doing other things, ensuring your whole business, not just you, is putting out the same message to your customers.
- Rigorously checking for ID and not accepting any excuses at all will get the message out that you and your staff will not sell tobacco products to people under the age of 18. They will soon stop trying.
- Display a Clear Store Policy at the till which will help you to deal constructively with minors who attempt to buy cigarettes.
Ideas for a Clear Store Policy
- Our staff have been trained not to sell tobacco to people under the age of 18.
We are all committed to upholding the law, not to do so could mean job losses. - We display signs to let customers know in advance that we will not sell to people under
the age of 18. - To ensure we comply with the law, we insist on a valid photo ID from anyone who appears that they may be under the age to buy products that have an age restriction applied.
- We will not sell tobacco to anyone without a valid photo ID if we are unsure as to whether they are under the legal age to be sold tobacco products.
- If we are in any doubt, we will not sell tobacco to anyone without a valid photo ID.
- We are always polite and respectful, but firm, with our underage customers.
- We keep a record of all refused sales.
The information on this website is for general guidance only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as such.
