Rochdale shops introduce No ID No Sale policy

Teenagers throughout the Rochdale area have started to apply for CitizenCards, credit-card size ID cards that allow them to prove their age.  The rush is on because Rochdale’s supermarkets, newsagents and convenience stores have teamed up to promote a stringent "No ID No Sale!’ message.  Supported by Trading Standards, the Police and the Government; the message is designed to prevent illegal sale of tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, solvents and other age-restricted goods to teenagers below the legal age (the legal age for selling alcohol, solvents and fireworks is 18.  For tobacco and lottery tickets it is 16).

Local MP Paul Rowen strongly supports the 'No ID No Sale' message and urges all local shops to add their support: "It’s important that the laws on alcohol and tobacco are upheld, and there are stiff fines for shops that are caught selling to children. But I understand how difficult a 'No ID No Sale' policy can be to implement, and I welcome the opportunity for all youngsters here in Rochdale to get a CitizenCard. This will make their lives easier and in turn will help shop staff to stay within the law."

The MP is also supporting the campaign directly, writing to all 18 year olds coming on to the electoral register citing the importance of the 'No ID No Sale' message and enclosing a CitizenCard application form.

Threshers manager Mike Kisil welcomed the No ID No sale policy, adding that staff often suffer abuse when refusing a sale: "We often get youngsters trying to buy alcohol or cigarettes.  It’s very difficult to tell their real age so we have to ask for ID.  Unfortunately, customers without ID often become abusive so to prevent this we hand out a CitizenCard application form and tell them to get a card."

Tim Hirst, CitizenCard’s Director of Communication, added that CitizenCards are available for anyone  who needs to get a valid form of ID or proof-of-age: "In Lancashire and Manchester we already have more than 7,000 cardholders. The card is all about what people can do, not what they can’t.  But we live in a world where you need to prove who you are, or how old you are.  We are distributing application forms to as many shops in Rochdale as we can, but the public can also phone us for a form or they can apply online at citizencard.com."

Date article online: 22/12/2006