Trading Standards
Age Related Sales
Trading Standards and Police Roles
Trading Standards are responsible for enforcing legislation dealing with many age-restricted
goods such as cigarettes, fireworks, butane gas and video recordings. The Police
enforce the law on other products such as alcohol, knives and lottery tickets. This
involves giving advice and guidance to traders as well as producing guides like
this one to advise sellers of such goods and assist them in training their staff.
In addition Trading Standards and Police in South Ayrshire promote the Young Scot
proof of age card scheme that is part of the overall Young Scot card initiative
run by the Dialogue Youth Section of the Council. This scheme has been brought in
to assist traders to identify which young people are aged to buy restricted products
and to allow traders to refuse sales to those who cannot prove their age.
Both the Police and Trading Standards are happy to give advice on compliance with
the law to local businesses. However they also have a duty to investigate complaints
of illegal sales and to carry out routine inspections to ensure compliance. Where
incidences of illegal sales are detected, traders and their staff should be aware
that this might lead to prosecution and reports to the local Licensing Board.
Trading Standards may check compliance with the law by using young people to make
test purchases. These young people are utilised following strict guidelines regarding
fairness to businesses and also regarding the promotion of the young person's safety.
Remember NO PROOF…NO SALE!