WIREDGOV

LBRO, the technical expert in local regulation, and the Trading Standards Institute are planning a series of seminars to stimulate debate regarding test-purchasing and more effective approaches to controlling age-restricted products.

Scheduled for the end of March, in Manchester, Birmingham, Exeter and Cardiff, the four seminars have been developed in response to an evidence-based report from LBRO's Business Reference Panel, which highlighted the difficulties experienced by retailers.

LBRO Chairman Clive Grace said: "The report gave a clear message that current relationships and collaboration between business, regulators, employees and consumers is not sufficient to achieve the necessary improvements in the control of restricted products.

"We want to encourage a broad audience of all those who are in the front line of this issue - local authorities, business, trade associations, police and trades unions representing the shop workers - to ensure that all perspectives are heard and to encourage participants to form local relationships with each other."

The impact of test purchasing stands out as a major concern and an area which would benefit from a facilitated dialogue between stakeholders.

The work has drawn the attention of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) who have a particular interest in the pressures and risks that age checks place on retail workers and the impact of fixed penalty notices on the individuals who receive them.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, said: "Our members are on the front line controlling the sale of age restricted products and over three-quarters of shop workers have experienced verbal abuse or worse asking customers for proof of age ID when they are simply doing their job.

"Genuine mistakes can lead to the risk of a fixed penalty notice which can have a significant impact on our members' lives. We very much welcome these seminars and look forward to continuing joint work with LBRO and the TSI to resolve this difficult issue."

The retail employee perspective has been very valuable, and has highlighted the importance of engaging the front line in developing solutions that keep restricted products away from young people.

Geoff Budd, Chairman of the Review Group of LBRO's Business Reference Panel, added: "Businesses represented by the Review Group are extremely keen to see the development of a fairer and more collaborative approach to solving the problems associated with under age sales prevention.

Retailers and their customer-facing staff treat their legal and social responsibilities with utmost care but consider they should be better supported in their efforts to maintain high standards of compliance rather than being treated as the villains of the piece.

"I hope these seminars will help break down barriers between enforcers and retailers to the benefit of all stake-holders, not least the local communities served by the retail sector.''

The seminars are to be delivered in partnership with the Trading Standards Institute, drawing on its expertise in consumer protection and age checking systems, as well as their network of contacts in local authorities and businesses.

Each seminar will feature speakers and facilitated dialogue, representing a range of perspectives on the issue and different points in the process of preventing the sale of a restricted product.

The seminars will take place on March 22 (Manchester), March 23 (Birmingham), and March 29 (Cardiff) & 30 (Exeter).