It is supported by: Sandwell Drug Action Team and Sandwell Health Partnership.

Sandwell Trading Standards Service receives many complaints from the public, elected members and the Police alleging:

• The sale of alcohol, solvents, cigarettes and fireworks to young people;
• Criminal behaviour by young people under the influence of alcohol and solvents;
• Antisocial behaviour involving fireworks, particularly in the weeks preceding November 5th.

When asked, Sandwell retailers of these age-restricted products frequently complain that they cannot tell a young person’s age based on appearance alone.  They need, and indeed want, a reliable means of confirming a young person’s age - the Sandwell Proof of Age Scheme, if fully implemented, would provide this assurance.  The post of Age-restricted Products Officer (ARPO) has therefore been created within Trading Standards to focus exclusively on this area.  Retailers within the Sandwell borough receive advice visits from the ARPO to ensure that they are aware of and are complying with the law to prevent under-age sales by asking young customers for proof of age cards.

As a complementary part of this initiative, Sandwell schools are also asked to participate in the scheme, which involves Year 11 students (15 year olds) being issued with an ID card showing a colour photograph of themselves, their date of birth and on what dates they will be 16 and 18. These cards are then to be produced by the students on request from retailers.  We are therefore instructing retailers that they do not sell any of their age-restricted products to anyone who looks under 21 years old (approx) and who cannot produce the Sandwell card or any other valid ID card in circulation (e.g. Citizencard, Connexionscard, Validate UK).

It is considered that, given the initial concerns by members of the public, and the health and safety issues for young people, the Scheme will prevent access to age-restricted products and thus the antisocial behaviours previously mentioned.  Trading Standards resources can also be used more effectively by collecting information to target only those retailers who consistently ignore the legislation.

If you have any queries regarding this scheme, or have any information about under-age sales occurring, please contact the ARPO as shown below.

Tel: 0121 569 6577
Fax: 0121 569 6599
Email: maureen_thompson@sandwell.gov.uk