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Retailers say no to pint-sized boozers

Chris Jones
4/ 9/2008

THE BATTLE against underage drinking is being won thanks to an innovative scheme operating in the town.

That’s the message from Rochdale Council which hassigned up 27 local business from across Middleton to its Responsible Retailer pilot project.

The programme, run in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police, encourages retailers to develop tough mechanisms to prevent the sale of all age-related products such as alcohol and tobacco to underage youngsters.

And one year on, the scheme is being hailed as a major success, with council bosses now touting it as ‘best practice’ to be rolled out to other areas of the borough to tackle under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Cabinet member for community safety, councillor Ted Flynn said: "I am delighted with the enthusiasm that traders in Middleton have shown for this scheme. By getting involved they are helping to prevent alcohol and cigarettes getting into the hands of young people.

"This has an immediate effect in reducing anti social behaviour in the town and also a long term benefit by improving health."

Retailers from across Middleton have signed up to the scheme, with participants receiving a certificate and poster to display in their shop to show their compliance.

To be eligible to join the scheme, businesses must show that staff are adequately trained in the prevention of underage sales and that they adopt the ‘Challenge 21’ policy and promote the ‘Validate’ proof of age card.

Members receive advisory visits from Trading Standards and test purchase exercises are also carried out to ensure compliance.

One of the retailers involved, Joanne Donohue, senior branch manager of Simply Drinks in Alkrington, said the scheme had already seen a drop in the number of youngsters attempting to purchase age-related products in the shop.

She said: "I think the message is starting to get round to people who are underage that they won’t get served in shops that are part of this scheme.

"We have also seen a drop in the number of youngsters who congregate outside.

"However one of the biggest problems we face is adults buying these products for children. We are very vigilant and adopt a strict Challenge 21 policy so anyone who looks under 21 will be asked for ID, but it’s much harder to stop youngsters getting alcohol if adults are buying it for them."

To report suspected underage sales, contact 08454 040506.

The full list of Responsible Retailers:

EAST MIDDLETON

• S&D Convenience Store, The Downs
• North West Wines, Oldham Road
• United Co-operative, Kenyon Lane
• Premier Stores, Grimshaw Lane
• Bargain Booze, Grimshaw Lane

WEST MIDDLETON

• Londis, Higher Wood Street
• Zaks Off Licence, Hollin Lane
• The Shop Convenience Store, Wood Street
• Thresher (First Quench), Lakeland Court

NORTH MIDDLETON

• Bargain Booze, Boarshaw Road Jubilee Stores, Jubilee Road
• Shop’n’Save, Stanycliffe Lane Select & Save, Rochdale Road
• Spar, Stanycliffe Lane Premier Stores, Oldham Road
• Aldi Foodstores, Eastway Chocolate Box, Oldham Road
• Booker Ltd, Stakehill Industrial Estate

SOUTH  MIDDLETON

• Greg’s Discount Food Ltd, Old Hall Street C&D Trading, Mount Road
• Chapel Walk Convenience Store, Chapel Walk
• Kingsway Food & Wine, Kingsway
• Simply Drinks, United Co-operative, & Tesco Express, Kirkway
• Iceland Foods PLC, Tesco Stores Ltd, & Quality Save, Middleton Shopping Centre

IS the scheme working? Send your views to the Guardian Letters, Middleton Guardian, 24a Fountain Street, Middleton M24 1AH or drop then in at Knights News, 7 Middleton Gardens, M24 1AJ. Alternatively you can email middletonguardian@menwn.co.uk