Online Retailers still selling age restricted goods to children

An alarming 9 out of 12 retailers tested sold and delivered age restricted goods to children via the Internet. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards carried out the research over a two week period to determine whether children were able to buy goods on-line where they would otherwise be challenged by shop staff.

The children taking part in the survey used pre-paid cards to obtain the goods, and visited sites selling alcohol, knives, spray paint and fireworks.  The research also involved looking at a cross section of the industry; from well known high street brands to local and specialist websites.

The goods were ordered under strict supervision and deliveries were made to secret addresses in the Brent and Harrow district. Trading Standards Officers were alarmed at how easy it was for children to procure the goods; some websites did check for age, whilst others only required the child to tick a box to confirm their age.

Retailer Responsibility

As Bill Bilon, Director of Trading Standards says; ‘If a child was minded to purchase knives, alcohol or other restricted goods, there is a strong possibility that they may just the tick the box to confirm that they are over eighteen in order to successfully obtain any product on line.

Whilst I appreciate that businesses need to flourish, they also have a responsibility towards our young citizens. In my view to ask nothing is unacceptable and the extent of the problem will now be investigated in full by my officers.’

Brent and Harrow Trading Standards plan to continue and extend this project, and investigate the retailers that illegally supplied the goods.

Age Verification Solutions

Retailers can and should verify the age of their customers. 192.com Business Services already works with a number of responsible retailers and gaming providers to supply the technology to verify that each individual customer is of legal age to transact.

The technology ensures genuine customers are able to transact whilst stopping under-age customers, regardless of their payment method.

For more information, please see our age verification section, or request a trial here to see exactly how the technology can integrate into your e-commerce process.

22^nd April 2008

Products Purchased

Some examples of age restricted goods purchased as part of the study:

The legislation which prohibits the sale of spray paint, alcohol, knives and fireworks to minors are The Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003, Licensing Act 2003, Criminal Justices Act 1988, The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 respectively.