Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team are very pleased after test purchasing the sale of tobacco to minors in shops, saw all traders visited refuse to sell the products to children.
The team visited 13 premises last night, October 22, and had refusals in all of the shops in the Britwell, Cippenham, Chalvey and Bath Road area.
Dean Cooke, trading standards officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “It’s very welcoming news that all the traders tested refused to sell tobacco products to the underage volunteers.
“We’ve given a great deal of guidance to the traders in Slough to assist them in refusing these types of sales.
“However, its imperative all traders continue to follow the “No ID, No Sale” principle, as some of the places visited saw traders just asking the consumer their age.
“In reality, this isn’t a good question, as any minor trying to buy age restricted products will lie about their age.”
Commissioner for Slough community and leisure, Cllr Shafiq Chaudhry, added: “Well done to trading standards for continuing to educate shops in Slough.
“However, the only way for traders to be totally sure they’re not breaking the law, is to ask customers to prove their age before buying any age restricted products.”
Trading Standards are planning further test purchasing projects where volunteers will be lying about their age to see if traders will ask them for proof of their age.
Purchasing tobacco products has seen the age range increase from 16 to 18 years from the 1st October 2007.
Slough Borough Council
