Trading standards - Under Age Sales

Trading Standards deal with under-age sales of age-restricted products, such as alcohol, tobacco, fireworks, knives, and DVDs/videogames, and we work with the Police to reduce the number of under-age sales.

Alcohol, fireworks and knives are examples of products which fuel anti-social behaviour amongst adolescents, and it is the responsibility of Trading Standards to reduce crime and disorder in the London Borough of Enfield.

Protecting and promoting the health and well being of children and young people is fundamental to the aims of improving Enfield. Restricting access to alcohol and tobacco is seen as essential to prevent young people consuming such products too early in life, as the risk of long term drinking and smoking can be both physically and mentally damaging.

The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 allows test purchases of age-restricted products using volunteers to take place, and guidance is given in the Code of Practice for test purchasing. Test purchases are considered an effective method of decreasing the accessibility of such products, as it targets the problem at the roots: the traders, and deters them from selling to young persons without a form of identification.

As part of the wider initiative in reducing youth crime, joint working with the police produces significant advantages such as efficient use of resources, increased intelligence and enhanced knowledge, to the mutual benefits of both parties. The police assist during the test purchasing exercises, and may act as a witness to any underage sales that take place.

All sellers of alcohol, including the physical seller, will be reported. The general public are becoming more involved in raising awareness and assisting in the well-being of the community, which is evidenced by the volume of complaints received about traders selling to underage children.

We urge the public to continue reporting traders suspected of selling age-restricted products to underage children, as the information received forms the basis for advisory visits, followed by intelligence led operations.

Eligibility
None.

Required Customer Information
None.

Service Level Agreement and Turnaround
Any complaints received by Trading Standards should receive a response within 24 hours. You will be notified of the advisory visit taking place, and additionally the outcome of the attempted test purchase. Your information will remain anonymous to the trader at all times.

More information about this service

Contact Us

Address:
Trading Standards & Licensing
PO Box 57, Civic Centre
Silver Street
Enfield
EN1 3XH
Map

Telephone:
Consumer Direct Enquiries:
08454 04 05 06

Business Enquiries:
020 8379 8505

Fax:
020 8379 8506

Opening Hours:
Office:
9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday
9.00 - 4.45pm Friday

Consumer Direct:
8am - 6pm Monday to Friday
9am - 1pm Saturday

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