New figures from test purchasing company Serve Legal reveal a growing decline in the number of on-trade outlets passing ID checking tests.
Last year, two thirds (66%) of pubs passed checking tests, a fall of around 4% on 2012, and a decline of 8% from a peak in 2010 where outlets passed about three in every four cases.
Serve Legal said the pass rate for pubs has declined further during the first six months of 2014 - down a further two points to 64%.
In comparison, supermarkets increased their pass rates in 2013 to an all-time high of 85%, with convenience stores and forecourt retailers also showing upward improvements.
Disappointing
The company said the dip in performance of pubs was largely a result of the leased and tenanted sector, where fewer than half (46%) passed the tests. This compared to 85% in late-night venues and 66% in the managed sector.
It also highlighted a particularly disappointing performance in London and Scottish pubs, where the pass rate was lower than that in other regions.
Serve Legal said that while some pub companies have used testing as part of their strategy to improve their performance and driven up pass rates as a result, the majority of pubcos do not have effective, rolling programmes designed to improve staff performance.
Many, for example, only initiate testing after venues have been caught selling to underage drinkers by police or Trading Standards, by which time they have to demonstrate a commitment to improve staff performance or face the consequences.
Training
Serve Legal director Ed Heaver said: “Landlords and pub owners have faced tough trading conditions in recent times, so it is perhaps unsurprising that the ID check pass rate has declined.
“However, serving underage customers carries the risk of a hefty fine or loss of licence, so conducting the appropriate ID checks is paramount.
“Ensuring all staff are aligned with the ID checking policy and have received adequate training is crucial. Independent testing of staff has a key role to play in this process - enabling establishments to improve overall performance, as well as helping them demonstrate to local authorities that they take the issue seriously.”
To pass a test, Serve Legal’s team of visitors purchase an age-restricted item and records key information about the transaction, particularly whether ID was requested. All its visitors are young looking 18 or 19 year old people, who should be asked to provide ID to complete the transaction.
If a visitor is required to provide official ID to complete the transaction then the site passes. If they purchase the items without showing ID then the site fails.
View an infographic featuring the key results