25th August 2005
McNeil
Joins Drive to Cut Out Underage Sales
Duncan
McNeil MSP today joined with the national youth information agency, Young Scot,
to call on local retailers that sell cigarettes, alcohol and other
age-restricted products to ask for proof-of-age carrying the PASS hologram from
younger customers.
The
Scottish Retail Consortium has published a new guidance booklet for retailers on
age-restricted sales and how to avoid underage sales.
This will be distributed by trading standards officers to local retailers
in the area, along with Young Scot materials on proof-of-age.
Director
of the SRC, Fiona Moriarty, said:
"It
is increasingly important that retail staff request valid proof-of-age from any
young customers who want to buy age-restricted products.
Young Scot cards have gained PASS accreditation which means that they
cannot be forged. Retail staff must demand proof-of-age cards that carry the
PASS hologram logo in order to help them abide by the law on the sale of
age-restricted products."
Graeme
Robertson of Young Scot, said:
"With
almost eight in ten young Scots claiming they would use a national proof of age
and 82% backing the idea of PASS, the new accreditation on the Young Scot card
will be welcomed by young people and retailers alike. By receiving PASS
accreditation each young person carrying the Young Scot card can use it as valid
proof of age and gain access to the age-restricted goods and services to which
they are entitled."
Duncan
McNeil MSP, said:
"We
know all too well the problems which underage sales create in our community, so
it’s good news that the Young Scot card has gained PASS accreditation, making
it a valid proof-of-age card. This
will go some way to combating underage sales and will help shopkeepers ensure
they’re not inadvertently breaking the law.
"I
will also be taking this opportunity to speak to the Scottish Retail Consortium
about my bid to raise the legal minimum age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18.
With so many different legal minimum ages for different products, it can
be hard for retailers to stay on the right side of the law.
It’s my view that consolidating the legal age for purchasing alcohol
and tobacco at 18 would make retailers’ lives easier and I’m keen to hear
the SRC’s thoughts on this."
Angus
Bell, Marketing Manager for Tesco in Scotland, said:
"It
is very hard to guess the age of young customers, so Tesco has had a policy
called Think-21 for a number of years which requires young people to prove their
ages. This PASS scheme will help
our checkout operators even further with many more young people carrying a
recognised form of ID."
ENDS
Notes
Young
Scot interviewed 150 young people (age 16-18) from across Scotland.
Research was carried out 21-22 July 2005.
Young
Scot is the national youth information agency for Scotland. It currently has a
membership of approximately 300,000 young people across Scotland. This figure is
expected to rise to 380,000 by the end of 2005 through partnerships with local
authorities across Scotland.
Young
Scot cards have received PASS accreditation and now carry the PASS hologram
logo. Young people can apply for a
Young Scot card with the PASS logo by getting in touch with their local
authority Young Scot / Dialogue Youth unit, details of which can be found on the
national youth information on www.youngscot.org.
Alternatively, they can get in touch with Young Scot on 0131 313 2488.
The
Proof of Age Standards Scheme is a national proof of age card accreditation
scheme, endorsed by Government, using a single logo. It provides minimum
standards and criteria for proof of age card issuers to meet. It has Trading
Standards Institute (TSI) approval.
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