Published on:
20
October 2006
Local traders are being asked by Stirling and Clackmannanshire Trading Standards Service to be on their guard this year in the run up to Bonfire night.
Last year trading standards officers, accompanied by a young person under 18, carried out a campaign to check if local traders were complying with the law on selling fireworks. It was found that 50% of the shops sold to the young person without querying their age.
The results of the campaign were so disappointing that this year officers will again visit traders who are registered to sell fireworks and offer advice on complying with the law.
These visits will be followed by a test purchasing campaign when a range of shops throughout the area will be visited by a young person under the age of 18, accompanied by Trading Standards Officers, to see if traders will sell fireworks to somebody under the legal age to purchase (18 years).
Hugh Hamilton, Trading Standards Manager explained the situation and why it was important to enforce the law. He said, "Last year there were a significant number of traders who took a reasonable 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. Where a sale was made it appeared to be due to a lack of attention or care of an employee rather than a deliberate policy of the trader. We hope by visiting traders and offering advice on the law that they will become more vigilant in dealing with sales of fireworks. The consequences of selling fireworks to young people are very serious. In 2005, 58% of all injuries caused by fireworks in Scotland were to under 18s."
Further information and advice can be obtained from the 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.