Retail Responsibly

 

Your walking on thin ice if you think your safe from the flexing arm of the law.

•The prevention of crime and disorder

•The protection of children from harm

The licensing reform has really put businesses in the spotlight when it come to these two licensing objectives in particular. Of course all four carry the same weight but most fall fowl of these two if any.
It certainly isn't hard for the authorities in charge to push you down the road of review if that's their desire and believe me it happens. Call me a cynic but not all licensing officers of the law have the best intentions for your business and some may just push the boundaries.
The government is already planning to double the fine for underage sales to £20,000, as part of its shake-up of the licensing laws.
But local authorities and police have to face up to weaknesses and inconsistencies in their approach to the problem.
There needs to be consistencies across the UK so retailers are able to formulate and implement national, company-wide policies to tackle underage sales, and train sales staff more effectively to meet higher expectations.”
And why can't more convictions take place of people trying to buy alcohol when underage!!

Figures currently show that in 2010 the on-trade failed  ID checks 23% of the time – which is better than 46% in 2008 and the off trade failed 34% – down 10% from two years ago.
As the new council licensing policies are being written nearly draft copy I have seen so far has a recommendation for Level 1 Responsible Alcohol Retail training for all staff. Its working in Scotland and will only be a matter of time I feel before England and Wales follow suit.

Selfishly promoting myself!!

I wrote this year for my own business MJR Morgan a course aimed at just that. I wrote it as a operator myself and so it ticks all the boxes.

• Easy to access
• Inexpensive at just £20 per staff member
• Covers all the learning outcomes of the BII equivalent
• http://www.mjrmorgan.co.uk/serve-smart-e-courses

Serve Smart is aimed at business managers, owners and alcohol retail staff, bar staff, students planning to work in a bar, off licenses and anybody who plans to sell alcohol to the public. It demonstrates commitment to responsible alcohol retailing. It enables those who successfully pass to act within the law and to support the designated premises supervisor, to retail alcohol responsibly on their licensed premises.
Serve Smart gives than a first class understanding of the knowledge required to legally and responsibly retail alcohol.
The course will demonstrate what you need to know to responsibly retail alcohol and is available to complete online, in your own time with a multiple choice exam at the end. On successful completion, you will be accredited and certificated by MJR Morgan in Serve Smart Responsible Alcohol Retail.
The Serve Smart Responsible Alcohol Retail Course also provides additional protection to licensed premises operators and candidates alike as it contains 3 particular modules that ensure every candidate fully understands the legislation concerning underage sales, serving persons who are drunk and the licensing objectives.
Serve Smart is also ideal for students who may be considering a new or part time position in a licensed premises and will certainly go a long way to showing understanding and commitment of the position, to future employers.

http://www.mjrmorgan.co.uk/serve-smart-e-courses