The Association of Convenience Stores has released new guidance for drivers delivering age-restricted goods such as alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and lottery products.
The new guidance is designed as a quick reference to view on mobile devices to ensure they are delivering items to customers who are 18 or over.
Suggestions by the association include establishing whether the products delivered are age-restricted and understanding the importance of the Challenge25 policy for deliveries.
READ MORE: ACS pleads to prime minister for HFSS review
Additionally, the ACS asks for delivery drivers to understand the kinds of identifications that are accepted and when a delivery should be refused.
“Convenience store retailers have a proven track record of promoting responsible retailing through the use of the Challenge25 policy for all age-restricted products,” ACS CEO James Lowman.
“With home delivery becoming more common in our sector, it’s important that the delivery drivers understand their responsibilities and have the confidence to enforce a robust age-restricted sales policy at the door – not just those who work directly for convenience stores, but also third-party delivery partners.”
The guidance comes as the 2021 Local Shop Report revealed 22% of convenience retailers offer some form of local grocery delivery service, meaning in-store colleagues deliver goods to customers.
The guidance has also been backed by the Surrey and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards as part of ACS’ wider Assured Advice scheme – which covers age-restricted sales to HFSS changes.
“We all want to see that the right product goes to the right people and the last line of defence in the chain for supplying age-restricted products rests at the point of delivery,” Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards business team l leader Michele Manson added.
“Where delivery drivers ensure that the recipient is an appropriate age they are actively protecting young people. This simple check reduces the opportunity for errors or deliberate attempts to bypass other controls.”
Click here to sign up to Grocery Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
