Trading Standards

Age Related Sales

The Off Sales Code Of 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 - sale specific matters as required by the Licensing Board to include: Offences and liability in relation to sales including under-age and agency sales and social consequences thereof; proof of age schemes; no proof no sale; refusing a sale; using a refusals book; and any other topic which the board may from time to time deem necessary.
  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.

The On Sales Code Of Practice

  1. Licensees must undertake training in accordance with the Licensing Board's current requirements; Licensees must ensure that all front line members of staff such as bar staff are adequately trained in server intervention in order to ensure that patrons are not supplied with alcoholic liquor when they appear to be intoxicated;
  2. Licensees must ensure that before any stewards are employed on the premises they have been trained and registered in accordance with the Licensing Board's current requirements;
  3. Licensees must participate in and promote the 'Young Scot' proof of age scheme through display materials and the acceptance of 'Young Scot' cards and must operate a 'no proof no sale' policy;
  4. Licensees must not support or devise promotions that are designed to encourage consumption of products that are of attraction mainly to younger patrons. Licensees should be aware of promotions that offer free 'gifts' that are designed to target younger patrons and should not support any promotion that offers a free 'gift' dependant upon the amount of alcohol purchased.
  5. Licensees must ensure that prices for alcoholic liquor remain constant from opening until close of business each day.
  6. Licensees must not encourage binge drinking via the use of 'Happy Hours' or similar activities on their licensed premises. Licensees must not offer free alcohol either by way of collection of vouchers or by means of an enticement to enter the premises;
  7. Licensees must not encourage 'doubling up' or 'upselling' where customers are encouraged to drink more for a cheaper unit price.
  8. Licensees must not effect reduced prices via 'two for one' or 'buy one get one free' or other similar types of promotions including large discounts on multiple measures;
  9. Licensees must avoid the use of advertising campaigns designed specifically to entice patrons to the licensed premises by virtue of promotions for the sale of alcoholic liquor. Licensees are encouraged to promote their premises with adverts detailing more than simply drink prices.
  10. Licensees must not promote irresponsible attractions or games where patrons are rewarded with alcohol rather than other prizes or cash.
  11. Licensees should not offer alcohol in any quantity as a quiz prize or promote any 'drinking games' which encourage patrons to drink large amounts of alcohol in a single session.

Remember NO PROOF.…NO SALE!

For further information on the codes please contact:
Licensing Board: Licensing Monitoring Officer
Burns House, Burns Statue Square, Ayr KA7 1UT
Tel: 01292 616357
Mobile:07968 587099
Fax: 01292 616263

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