Michael Clapham

Labour Party | Barnsley West and Penistone

MP puts himself in the shoes of a shopworker

20 October 2009

Michael Clapham MP put himself in the shoes of a shopworker trying to decide whether a young person is old enough to buy alcohol.

The event in Westminster was part of retail union Usdaw's Freedom From Fear campaign. This year the campaign is focussing on the difficult decisions shopworkers face on a daily basis when trying to decide whether someone looks old enough to buy alcohol or other age-restricted goods.

Michael Clapham MP said:

"This exercise made me realise just how hard it is to tell the age of a young person. Shopworkers have to make that on-the-spot judgement all the time. Refusing to serve someone who is underage is often a flashpoint for abuse, both physical and verbal, but even asking for ID is often enough to make many people kick-off at the shopworker.

"On the other hand, if the shopworker serves someone who is underage, they are liable to an £80 fixed penalty notice, with repeated breaches incurring a court appearance or a fine of up to £1,000.

"Shopworkers aren't paid huge amounts and they are in a difficult position of having to guess who to challenge. I hope that shoppers in Barnsley West & Penistone will be patient with shopworkers and produce ID if asked.

"I am also asking the government to look at whether the balance is right on this issue. I believe that there is too much responsibility on the shopworker and not enough on the person who is attempting to buy underage. I have signed an EDM calling for the government to run a high profile campaign making it clear to youngsters that it is illegal for them to attempt to purchase alcohol underage. I also want to see local retailers display that information prominently in their stores"