Published on:
07
November 2005
In the run up to Bonfire Night, Trading Standards Officers have been carrying out an exercise to check if local traders in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council areas are complying with the law on selling fireworks.
Accompanied by a young person under the age of 18, officers visited a range of shops throughout area to see if traders would sell fireworks to somebody under the legal age to purchase (18 years).
Overall 12 shops were visited, with 6 selling to the young person without querying their age.
An analysis of the sales showed that Stirling traders had faired better in refusing to sell - of seven premises visited within the Stirling Council area, there were two sales of fireworks This is probably due to previous test purchase exercises where traders had received advice about age restricted sales and how to deal with requests from young people for fireworks and other age restricted products.
This information will now be made available to Clackmannanshire traders, where four out of the five premises visited sold fireworks to the young person, and it would be expected that there would be a significant improvement in future test purchasing exercises.
Hugh Hamilton, Trading Standards Manager stated: "There were a significant number of traders who took a very responsible approach to the sale of fireworks.
They demanded proof of age from anyone who appeared to be under 18 and, if no evidence was supplied, they refused to make a sale."
He added that where a purchase had been made it appeared to be due to a lack of attention or care on the part of an employee rather than a deliberate policy of the trader.
During the course of the exercise the young person who was attempting to make the test purchases was, on being refused by a trader, advised by an adult in the queue to get somebody over 18 to get the fireworks. An officer was also approached by three children outside a shop and asked if she would purchase fireworks on their behalf.
Mr Hamilton added: "Adults may think that they are doing children a favour by helping them to get access to fireworks but they can be dangerous when used incorrectly and can cause serious injuries. In 2004, 50% of all injuries caused by fireworks were to under 18s. Trading Standards will continue to offer advice to traders who sell age restricted products and will monitor how they comply with the law by carrying out further exercises."
Further Information and advice can be obtained from Stirling Council Trading Standards Service. If you wish to report any matter of concern in relation to Fireworks please phone 0845 277 7000 and speak to a member of the Trading Standards team in confidence.