Managers and staff at licensed premises in Staffordshire are being urged to attend a training course after a trade survey revealed that more than a third of UK pubs and bars failed to properly check the age of customers during the first six months of this year.
The study, by Serve Legal, an independent test purchase organisation, found that 36 per cent of such businesses failed age check operations – an eight per cent increase since 2010.
Frazer Grant, CEO at Stone-based abv Training, which trains hospitality professionals and retailers on how to prevent illegally selling age-restricted products, said: “The study shows that this is still a huge problem and one which needs tackling. The penalties are severe for any businesses which are caught, with a large fine and even the loss of their license to sell certain products.
“The best way to ensure staff are aware of the law and the correct protocols to follow when they are serving a customer who appears to be underage is to register them on a training course, whether they are selling alcohol, cigarettes, fireworks, lottery tickets, aerosols or knives.”
Places are available on abv Training’s HABC Award in Underage Sales Prevention course, in Stone on Monday 22nd September.
To register for a place, email succeedwithus@abvtraining.co.uk or call 0800 0612981.
