An initiative aimed at reducing sales of alcohol drinks to underage people has been welcomed by the Department of Home Affairs.
Major retailers and the Police Alcohol Unit are supporting 'Challenge 25', a voluntary policy that will require all those over 18 years of age but under 25 to carry photographic identification if they wish to purchase alcohol.
The new initiative comes from Offwatch, a committee of off licence retailers that aims to ensure a proactive approach to alcohol
regulation is taken across the Island. Active members of Offwatch who have signed up to Challenge 25 include Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Shoprite, Spar, Tesco and Whilo Stores. Challenge 25 will be implemented from Monday, 18th May.
Political Member of the Department of Home Affairs with responsibility for the Chief Minister’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy is Bill Malarkey MHK. He comments ‘This excellent initiative marks a new era of close co-operation between Offwatch traders, Government and the police.
'The initiative is the first of several being worked on and aims to stop juveniles buying alcohol. The traders know their responsibilities and they are eager to work with us to stop underage drinking.’
By implementing Challenge 25 on 18th May, retailers will have greater freedom to challenge young people buying alcohol to ensure they are not breaking the law, either by trying to purchase alcohol for themselves or for others who are under 18.
Peter Whittaker, chair of Offwatch, says ‘Retailers take their responsibilities very seriously. The Challenge 25 policy is just one of many initiatives we are currently working on. We have in the past worked very closely with many agencies and authorities in helping reduce alcohol-related issues in the communities in which we all operate. This will go a long way towards preventing underage persons obtaining alcohol and other age related products.
‘We ask that all adults help us in achieving our aims by not purchasing alcohol on behalf of those who are underage, as retailers work closely with the police and any person found to be doing so will be reported. Alcohol that is in the home should be securely stored and monitored and not freely available to children.’
Sergeant Steve Maddocks of the Police Alcohol Unit adds 'Traders in Offwatch are not obliged to implement these additional checks on the purchase of alcohol to young people but it is an initiative we support, as we would any measure which aims to prevent the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 18.
'The message is that anyone up to the age of 25 will need to provide photo ID to purchase alcohol from participating retailers, who can decline to sell it to them if they have any suspicion that the alcohol is being obtained for underage people, and the retailers will have the support of the police in implementing Challenge 25.
‘I would like to remind everybody that it is an offence to buy alcohol on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years and this is punishable by a fine of up to ?1,000. Anyone under the age of 18 purchasing or attempting to purchase alcohol could face a fine of up to ?500.
'Additionally, I should emphasise it is an offence to produce fake identification in order to try and purchase alcohol and the Police will take action against people found doing this.’
This initiative is part of the many activities under the Drug and Alcohol Strategy which aim to reduce harmful patterns of drinking among young people and promote cultural change in the pattern of drinking in the Island community.
Acceptable forms of ID include passports, European Union photo card driving licence and the 18+ card issued by Isle of Man Government.
