Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

If you sell cigarettes, don't risk a fine!

Young recruits to Wiltshire’s trading standards service were out and about within the county again this summer, checking to see if shopkeepers were obeying the law concerning the sale of cigarettes to minors.

Two 15 year old volunteers went out with trading standards officers and tried to buy cigarettes from 32 different shops throughout Wiltshire. The shops ranged from large supermarkets to small village stores. The volunteers used different approaches when attempting to purchase cigarettes. One followed a national code of practice where they are casually dressed with no or little makeup, of average height and who tell the truth when asked their age. The other volunteer was allowed to wear clothes and make-up typically worn by 15 year old girls and could lie about their age. Each volunteer visited the same premises on the same day but at separate times during that day.

Of the 32 premises visited in Wiltshire none of the businesses made sales to the casually dressed volunteer however 12 of them were happy to sell to the 15 year old volunteer wearing make up.

Where a sale took place letters were sent to the stores to explain the exercise had taken place and to highlight the consequences of staff making an illegal sale. Steve Clover, head of commercial and consumer protection at Wiltshire Council, said: “Whilst none of the Wiltshire based businesses sold cigarettes to the volunteers following the code of practice, disappointingly 12 of them did sell to the volunteer dressed as a 15 year old girl typically would. It is important that retailers remember the ‘Think 21’ message and apply it diligently. It is their responsibility to ensure that under 18’s are not able to purchase tobacco and cigarettes. We recognise that this is not always straightforward, but we followed up the test purchasing exercise with advice visits to support businesses in reaching this objective.”

Businesses in Wiltshire who would like advice on preventing sales of age restricted products can ring Wiltshire Council on 0300 4560100 and ask to speak to a trading standards officer.