Published on:
03
November 2006
In the run up to Bonfire Night, Trading Standards Officers have been carrying out a campaign 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 10 shops were visited, 5 in each Council area and Trading Standards officers are delighted to report that all refused to sell to the young person.
Hugh Hamilton, Trading Standards Manager said, "Last year when we carried out this exercise 50% of the traders sold to the under age volunteer. We were very disappointed with this outcome and resolved to provide traders with additional information on the sale of fireworks when they registered to sell fireworks in future. This year every trader who registered to sell fireworks was visited by an officer an provided with advice on the storage of the fireworks and precautions they could take to prevent the sale of fireworks to young persons under the age of 18.In each of the premises visited the volunteer was asked to provide proof of age and when none could be provided the trader correctly refused to sell any fireworks to the volunteer."
Mr Hamilton added: "We are pleased that all the traders took the appropriate action in asking to see evidence that proved the age of the volunteer and, when none was supplied, declined to sell. This exercise has shown a dramatic improvement over that achieved last year. 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 or other age restricted product please phone 0845 277 7000 and speak to a member of the Trading Standards team in confidence.