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 Home Campaigns Freedom From Fear Resources
Usdaw says shopworkers need Government help to identify underage customers12 July 2005Retail union Usdaw is pressing the Government to make ‘No ID, No Sale’ notices compulsory in stores across the UK to stamp out underage sales of potentially dangerous goods like knives and alcohol. Underage drinkers attempt to buy alcohol every five seconds in the UK which remains the main trigger for around 20,000 violent assaults on shopworkers with some retail workers being stabbed or beaten with iron bars. An Usdaw survey of 600 stores found that shopworkers who refuse the illegal underage sale of a wide variety of goods, including alcohol, solvents, DVDs, lottery tickets, knives, cigarettes, scratch cards and fireworks, trigger terrifying incidents of verbal abuse, intimidation and vicious assaults in stores. Many frontline counter staff are attacked simply because they obeyed the law, refusing to serve customers they believed to be under the legally required age to buy the goods in their shopping baskets. Speaking at the launch of Usdaw's annual Respect for Shopworkers Day, General Secretary John Hannett said: "We don't want to stigmatise all young people as most who try it on will simply walk away when challenged to provide ID, but a significant minority turn their frustration on innocent staff which is utterly unacceptable." "I would challenge anyone to be able to easily identify today's teenagers as being the legal age to buy anything from knives, airguns, cigarettes and alcohol, so it's totally unfair to expect shop staff to do so without a photo ID scheme for young people. We don't condone under-age sales in any form, but our members are often left on their own to make difficult decisions so they need help and they need it now." Usdaw's team of sponsored MPs have been fully briefed on the new proposals and the Association of Convenience Stores is fully supporting Respect for Shopworkers Day. The union is also concerned about the number of 'sting' operations being carried out by local Trading Standards Officers where underage shoppers are deliberately sent into shops to buy goods they are not old enough to purchase resulting in the shop assistant who sold them being fined. Usdaw is telling all its members to remember that if they are in any doubt at all then they should refuse the sale as they are liable to a minimum of an £80 fixed-penalty notice for illegal alcohol sales and shopworkers who persistently sell age restricted goods to underage shoppers face being imprisoned. "The real key to tackling this problem is education," says John Hannett. "Retailers need to make sure their employees are kept fully informed about the different restrictions and their legal responsibilities. We also want to see more work done in schools to educate young people that they won't get served unless they are the right age to buy the product so they quickly get the message they will be carded if there is any doubt at all about their age." "In America young people routinely expect to be asked for proof of age when buying alcohol and we want the same attitude in the UK because teenagers here are now risking a £50 fine for trying to buy alcohol underage. We think that this will take the pressure off our members on the frontline and reduce the potential for violence in stores. Most retailers are responsible employers, but we will continue to lobby the Government for this small but vital change in the law to protect our members from violent thugs." Notes to Editors:
Freedom From Fear Resources
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