Training bodies team up to tackle underage sales

02-Sep-2014 - Last updated on 03-Sep-2014 at 15:51 GMT

The courses were launched following a recent survey revealing that only 64% if licensed premises passed test-purchase visits

Three of the UK’s top licensing-training organisations have teamed up with Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) to help staff tackle the issue of underage sales.

Inn-Dispensable, Innpacked and abv will work with the qualifications body throughout the autumn to run a series of courses across England that aim to improve falling compliance levels in the on-trade.

The organisations have launched the courses following a recent survey carried out by Serve Legal that showed only 64% of licensed premises passed test-purchase visits during the first six months of 2014, representing a significant downturn since 2010.

It also revealed the on-trade is being out-performed by the off-licence sector, where pass rates for test-purchase visits were 85% in 2013.

The workshops will deliver the HABC Level 2 Award in Underage Sales Prevention (QCF), which is the first qualification in the UK to be introduced specifically for the subject and accepted by Best Bar None initiatives and police waiver schemes.

Each course lasts half a day, costs £70 per learner and includes complimentary materials such as Highfield’s Preventing Underage Sales Handbook.

The dates and locations are:

11 September – Southampton (Innpacked)
16 September – Oxford (Inn-Dispensable)
18 September – Bournemouth (Innpacked)
22 September – Stone (abv Training)
23 September – Cardiff (abv Training)
24 September – Sheffield (abv Training)
25 September – Winchester (Innpacked)
13 October – Cheltenham (Inn-Dispensable
14 November – Bristol (Inn-Dispensable)

HABC managing director Chris Sprenger said: “Standards across the sector need to be improved and the only way this can be achieved is through effective staff training and education.

“In most instances, selling alcohol to a minor will result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £90 being levied against the member of staff, then the possibility of a greater fine and suspension of the premises licence for a second failure of the business. But that is minor compared to the impact it can have on your business reputation locally.

“The vast majority of the on-trade sector wants to be a ‘good neighbour’ to their local community, and these courses are the most effective way to ensure that you and your staff can achieve that.”

For more details, go to www.highfieldabc.com/CourseFinder.