On Thursday 1st June 2017 Nottingham City Council Trading Standards Service conducted an underage test purchase operation. The purpose of underage test purchases is to reduce the level of sales of goods that can only be sold to those above a minimum age.
This operation was run to test the systems of those traders Nottingham City Council Trading Standards Service had received complaints about who were allegedly selling age restricted products to minors. The goods that were tested for were
- Alcohol
- Tobacco (Cigarettes)
- The liquids that go in electronic cigarettes (E-Liquids)
Nottingham City Council Trading Standards Service had two volunteers (young people under the age of 18) to go into the shops identified to the Service to purchase items. The volunteers are sourced in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police Cadets
Out of the 14 shops visited, 4 sold to the young people. There were 2 sales of e-liquids and 2 sales of alcohol. Investigations are on-going into those 4 traders who sold to the young people. Those shops who did not sell will also be informed of the operation.
Jane Bailey, Nottingham City Council’s Trading Standards Manager stated
“Although there have been 4 sales to those under the minimum age, I am very pleased to know that 10 of the shops we tested didn’t sell. This shows that not only have they got processes and procedures in place to stop sales of products to those below the minimum age but they implement them as well. This shows that they are abiding by the law and keeping the young people of Nottingham safe. This partnership with Nottinghamshire Police Cadets works very well and provides the young people with other enforcement experience.
If anyone has any concerns about shops selling age restricted products to underage young people please call Citizens Advice Consumer Service, 03454 040506.”