Looking at all the horror stories we have gathered, the Challenge 21 campaign is still gaining way too many ’successes’ in terms of failed test purchases.
We think that won’t change until we see licensees taking their staff training and record keeping seriously, but also until young people in this country get used to the idea that they need to be able to prove their age when asked.
It’s unfortunate but many members of front line staff don’t implement an effective Challenge 21 policy. It may be from a lack of training but, equally, it may well be out of a fear of abuse; ‘are you calling me a liar/I come here all the time/I know where you live’ etc. etc.
In other countries, Australia and America for instance, people routinely produce ID and think nothing of it; it’s just what happens when you buy alcohol in those places.
Until we can get young people to understand that it’s not an invasion of privacy or a personal sleight the onus will remain on the licensee to be vigilant. Clearly, too many are not vigilant enough and the trading standards enforcement officers remain way busier than they should be…