ID before you sell!

26 January 2009

ID before you sell!

Another Christchurch dairy has been caught selling to an underage volunteer this week and is likely to face prosecution. Thirteen others in the same operation refused to sell cigarettes when the volunteer failed to produce identification – some retailers even reprimanded the youth. Medical Officer of Health, Dr Alistair Humphrey, congratulates all those retailers in the monitoring check who asked for ID and then refused to sell cigarettes when ID was not produced.

“Checking photo IDs is an essential part of modern retail practice” Dr Humphrey said

“Many retail outlets sell cigarettes, alcohol or gambling products which are potentially harmful. Young New Zealanders should not be put at risk by retailers’ pursuit of profit”

“It can be difficult to assess a person’s age but once you have sold to one underage person you are likely to attract many more,” Dr Humphrey said. “We strongly recommend that retailers protect themselves by always asking any person who appears under 25 for ID. Just asking their age is not sufficient.” Volunteers selected for these operations always look their age, he said.

Further monitoring checks will continue around Christchurch and Canterbury to make sure that retailers continue to obey the law. Retailers who are caught selling tobacco products to people under the age of 18 can face up to a $2000 fine. In addition, repeat offending retailers can be ordered not to sell tobacco products for up to three months.

ENDS

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