Wokingham Responsible Retailer Scheme Announced

A successful scheme aiming to reduce the illegal sale of alcohol to young people has been launched in the Wokingham Borough.

The Responsible Retailer scheme has been running successfully for four years in West Berkshire and now has more than 200 premises taking part. The scheme offers training, advice and support to those involved in selling age-restricted products.

It also gives recognition to those premises who have committed to trade responsibly. More than 200 premises have qualified and are full participants in the West Berkshire scheme, launched in June 2007.

The Responsible Retailer scheme is free to join and all those accepted are presented with information and training aids, along with a framed certificate and responsible retailer stickers for display within the premises. A list of premises accepted onto the scheme will be published on the council’s website.

Two-hour training sessions on preventing underage sales are available for those joining the scheme at £10 a head. The course includes information on:

Why certain products are controlled
The role and responsibilities of the seller
Why people make illegal sales
How to prevent illegal sales / how to refuse a sale / assessing risk
The consequences of selling
Proxy sales

For information or booking details, contact Wokingham and West Berkshire Trading Standards on (01635) 519930