Serve Legal Press
Pubs step up underage checks
The Publican, 29/07/2010
Survey reveals a 20 per cent rise in two years of customers being asked for ID
Convenience stores are winning battle against under-age purchasing
Talking Retail, 28/07/2010
Regular test purchasing is helping convenience stores to pass the under-age test with steady improvements in performance year on year, according to new findings out today.
Aged 36 and can't get served
BBC News Magazine, 20/05/2010
National identity cards may have been scrapped, but that doesn't mean you don't need to carry other forms of ID. An increasing number of people - some in their 30s and 40s - are being asked for proof of age when buying alcohol. Why?
1 in 7 teens would pay for ID
Morning Advertiser, 28/04/2010
Just one in seven 18 and 19-year-olds would be prepared to pay for a national ID card, which has been billed as useful ID for buying alcohol.That’s according to a survey from Serve Legal, the test purchasing firm.
Age Policing Improving in Betting Shops
Betting Business, 12/11/2009
Regular testing of sales procedures at bookmakers to ensure that staff are enforcing 'Test 21' age check policies is leading to more sites regularly acheiving pass rates, according to Serve Legal, the UK's leading test test purchasing company.
Abv Training - our new training partner
Serve Legal, 24/09/2009
Serve Legal are pleased to announce a new partnership with abv Training
Time to Think 25 for ID parade
Betting Business, 02/09/2009
Last month I experienced a day in the field with a firm providing a service that the gambling industry may soon find to be essential in meeting the Gambling Act's aim of protecting children from gambling. Serve Legal is a company that has a nationwide data' base of 18-19 year olds in order to provide a 'mystery shopping' programme to bookmakers in order to ensure that their staff members are correctly enforcing their own age check policies.
Boost in ID checks
Off License News, 21/08/2009
Off licenses and convenience stores have boosted performance in checking ID's to prevent underage sales, according to a report by test purchasing body Serve Legal.
More C-stores are checking ID
The Grocer, 19/08/2009
Off licences and convenience stores are leading the retail sector with the biggest increases in performance in asking for IDs when a potential underage customer attempts to buy alcohol.
Pubs improve underage sales record
The Morning Advertiser, 11/08/2009
The on-trade performed better than the off-trade in asking young people for ID for the first time in the second quarter of 2009. The figures come from test purchase operation Serve Legal, which is employed to check staff are adhering to best practice guidelines.
Age Legislation Press
Coalition plots new crackdown on underage drinking
The Grocer, 28/07/2010
The government is set to double fines for off-licenses that sell alcohol to underage drinkers and is planning to extend the powers of local authorities to close repeat offenders.
Licensing Act consultation to last six weeks
Morning Advertiser, 23/07/2010
The trade will have just six weeks to convince Government that no further changes are required to the Licensing Act.The Home Office is to hold a series of five regional workshop events around the country to consult on its proposed changes to the Licensing Act — but the consultation period has been truncated to six weeks.
ID card backlash after national scheme is scrapped
The Grocer, 27/05/2010
The new coalition government’s announcement that it will scrap the national identity card scheme has coincided with concerns from civil liberties groups about stores’ age-verification procedures. The scheme, which would cost £5bn to implement nationally, had already launched in Manchester and London. Many retailers felt it would have made determining ages easier.
Queen's Speech: Ban on below-cost sales within next 18 months
The Publican, 25/05/2010
New police Bill also confirms plan to 'overhaul' Licensing Act - including an extra fee for late-night licences The coalition government plans to introduce a law banning below-cost sales of alcohol within the next 18 months, it was confirmed in the Queen's Speech today. It also wants to "overhaul" the Licensing Act within the same time period.
Hard-line licensing plans confirmed
Morning Advertiser, 20/05/2010
The new Government has confirmed plans to ban below-cost alcohol sales and strengthen licensing laws.
Scottish pubs call for supermarket action
Morning Advertiser, 04/05/2010
Scotland’s biggest pub groups have called for Government action to stamp out irresponsible promotions on alcohol in supermarkets.
Doorstaff urged to confiscate dodgy ID
The Morning Advertiser, 18/03/2010
Doorstaff are being urged to confiscate ID that is used by under-18s to try to buy alcohol. The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which regulates doorstaff, has agreed to take part in a Home Office campaign to crackdown on the problem.
Hotspots mapped for pub curbs
Morning Advertiser, 17/03/2010
Maps charting alcohol-related ambulance pick-ups against drinking hotspots in East Midlands towns could be used as evidence in pub and club licence reviews.
Mandatory code faces delays
Morning Advertiser, 04/03/2010
New predictions have been made that implementation of the mandatory alcohol retailing code could be delayed. It came after a committee of Lords chose not to approve the new powers.
Pub host forces supermarket licence review
Morning Advertiser, 02/03/2010
A host has succeeded in getting licences of two Scottish supermarkets reviewed for selling alcohol so cheaply.Fife Licensing Board majority voted six to three to formally review premises licences of Tesco and Morrisons in the city. The full board meeting is due on 22 March.
Key Quotes
"News of two-strikes-and-your-out policies are rattling nerves"
The Publican
"Failing to ask for ID can put you out of business – but many retailers still take a chance"
Nigel Huddleston, Off Licence News
"We need a culture change about drinking, with everyone from parents, the alcohol industry and young people all taking more responsibility"
Ed Balls, Children’s Secretary