Licensing Services

Code of Practice

Off-sales Premises

Introduction

As part of the Board's policy to encourage improvement of standards in licensed premises and following on from the introduction of the Code of Practice for On-sale premises the Board have introduced a Code of Practice for Off-sales premises with effect from 9 June 2005. The Code was introduced following consultations with off-sale trade representatives and a wider consultation exercise with all off-sale licence holders within South Ayrshire. The response from the trade was very positive and the Code of Practice has been welcomed by all concerned."

Best Practice

1. Licensees must undertake training in accordance with the Licensing Boards current requirements.
2. Licensees must ensure that all staff are trained in Off-sales specific matters as required by the Licensing Board to include:

Offences and liability in relation to sales including underage and agency sales and social consequences thereof;
proof of age schemes;
no proof no sale;
refusing a sale;
using a refusals book;

3. Licensees must request secure photo identification from ALL young persons and operate a “no proof no sale” policy.
4. Licensees shall ensure all age related signage and agency sale signage is displayed in a prominent place and also at the point of sale/till.
5. Licensees shall retain any proof of age cards that appear to have been tampered with/forged and alert Trading Standards Service.
6. Licensees shall ensure ANY person attempting to purchase an unusual amount of alcohol of the type favoured by young people is questioned and satisfies the seller that the items are not being purchased for a person/persons under age prior to permitting the sale to proceed.
7. Licensees shall use a “refusals” book and keep it up to date. The refusals book will be produced for inspection by Police, Trading Standards Officers and the Board’s Monitoring Officer on request.
8. Licensees shall only display alcohol which would be attractive to young people either behind the till counter, or in the immediate vicinity of the till counter or as close to the till counter as practicable in relation to the size and layout of the premises.
9. Licensees shall not support any irresponsible promotions designed to encourage consumption of products that are attractive mainly to younger patrons (such as advertising campaigns/posters depicting young people having fun drinking or which promote products which are given names to make the product seem “sexy”) or offer disproportionate free gifts of alcohol or other items dependant on the quality of these products purchased.
10. Licensees shall supply carrier bags (preferably of a type which can be recycled} for the use of patrons which identify the premises. (not applied until 7 July 2005)

Contacts

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