Camelot has launched a month-long campaign to prevent retailers selling lottery tickets to underage customers after an increase in the number of sales made to children without checking their age.
Between January and July this year its test-purchase scheme, Operation Child, found the number of retailers selling to children on their first visit without questioning their age was up 2% on 2003 to 14.91%.
Retailers will be provided
with a revamped refusal register to record attempted underage purchases, a staff room poster to raise awareness among workers and CitizenCard application forms for customers.
Operation Child checks the 30,000 lottery retailers by recruiting children who are 16 but look younger, who attempt to buy lottery tickets.
If the retailer fails to ask for ID on three separate visits, their terminal can be removed and the licence to sell lottery tickets terminated - resulting in a loss of an average £7,000 a year in retailer commission. This has only been necessary eight times in the past five years.
John Branscombe, Camelot’s director of security, said the measures were being put in place as a reminder to all retailers. “We understand that it has become increasingly difficult to tell what age young people are, but we are proud that the vast majority of our retailers are vigilant and do not break the law.”
Between January and July this year its test-purchase scheme, Operation Child, found the number of retailers selling to children on their first visit without questioning their age was up 2% on 2003 to 14.91%.
Retailers will be provided
with a revamped refusal register to record attempted underage purchases, a staff room poster to raise awareness among workers and CitizenCard application forms for customers.
Operation Child checks the 30,000 lottery retailers by recruiting children who are 16 but look younger, who attempt to buy lottery tickets.
If the retailer fails to ask for ID on three separate visits, their terminal can be removed and the licence to sell lottery tickets terminated - resulting in a loss of an average £7,000 a year in retailer commission. This has only been necessary eight times in the past five years.
John Branscombe, Camelot’s director of security, said the measures were being put in place as a reminder to all retailers. “We understand that it has become increasingly difficult to tell what age young people are, but we are proud that the vast majority of our retailers are vigilant and do not break the law.”
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