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Think 21Wirral Trading Standards, Merseyside Police, and other agencies receive many enquiries about youths aged under 18 buying alcohol and causing nuisance and anti-social disorder in the community. Since 2002, Trading Standards and Merseyside Police have carried out a programme of test purchases across the borough, targeting off-licence premises by sending volunteers under the age of 18 into premises and attempting to buy alcohol. Strict Home Office Guidelines are followed when carrying out the ‘test purchases’. 17 formal cautions and one prosecution of a licensee, up to and including 01/12/2004 have been issued so far by Trading Standards. Both sales assistants and licensees have been the subject of enforcement action for selling alcohol to child volunteers. Trading Standards (as partners in the Wirral and Evening Nightime Strategy) saw that although formal cautions and prosecutions may deter the individuals involved from doing it again, it wasn’t effective in stopping underage sales on its own. For this reason Wirral Trading Standards decided to develop the programme further by visiting licensees and delivering specific training in the area of underage sales of alcohol. 
Click Here for more information about Publicity Materials How Will It Work? The project is called "Think 21" and encourages licensed premises to challenge anybody who looks under 21 for proof of age. It is easier for staff selling alcohol to distinguish between somebody who is under 21 than somebody who is under 18. If somebody challenged then produces valid proof of age to show they are over 18, they will then be served. Trading Standards are asking all licensees in Wirral to voluntarily adopt this scheme as a standard across the Borough. We understand that customers may take offence at being asked to prove their age at first, but the more they are asked, the less likely they are to take offence. We expect at first there may be a number of people over 18 who don’t carry any form of proof of age, and may possibly encounter a problem getting served. For this reason we encourage anybody who thinks they may be challenged to start carrying ID with them. The project is also aimed at adults purchasing alcohol for underage kids. It is illegal to do so, and adults buying for kids currently face a fine of up to £1000. For all the adults know, the kids outside the off-licences asking for alcohol could be Trading Standards / Police volunteers and be part of a sting operation. Is it worth the risk? Partnership Wirral Chamber Of Commerce were also about to embark on some project work based around Wirral pubs and clubs. Chris King (Crime Reduction Manager for Birkenhead) joined forces with Trading Standards, as did Merseyside Police Community Support Officers in Heswall who were also starting up a “Think 21” campaign in their local area. Birkenhead and Wallasey Primary Care Trust (PCT), Wirral DAAT (Drug and Alcohol Action Team) and Wirral Borough Council’s Community Safety Team have also involved in the project. With all of these agencies and departments working together it is hoped that we can make a real difference.  Licensee Training Understanding the problem is an important part of this process, and as such Wirral Trading Standards have made a conscious shift from ‘catching people out’ to assisting and training staff in the prevention of underage sales. Training Sessions have already been held with a major chain of off-licences at the councils Wirral Education Centre, Bromborough. Visits will be made to as many remaining off-licences in the Borough as possible to offer a short training package and advice for licensees and their staff. It is important to note that Trading Standards and Merseyside Police will continue to carry out test purchases in addition to the training, so staff must remain vigilant at all times. Through this project, Trading Standards aim to reduce complaints in relation to underage sales of alcohol, and reduce the level of nuisance and anti-social behaviour by under 18’s in Wirral. |
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Trading Standards Division, 3rd Floor, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ED
Telephone: (0151) 691 8020 Fax: (0151) 691 8098
Internet World Wide Web http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/wirral/
Electronic Mail: tradingstandards@wirral.gov.uk
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