ID campaign cuts underage sales

The sale of spray paint to under 16s halved after the campaign

Trading standards officers in Sussex are hailing the success of campaigns to reduce the sales of spray paints and cigarettes to underage children.

The county councils have been running "No ID No Sale" campaigns to encourage retailers to ask for proof of age.

A 13-year-old volunteer sent to try to buy cigarettes in East Sussex was refused by all 18 shops tested.

In West Sussex, the number of shops which sold spray paints to under 16s halved after the campaign.

The law surrounding under-age sales of tobacco is there to protect youngsters from becoming addicted at an early age Brian Johnson

In an effort to reduce graffiti it was made illegal to sell spray paints to under 16s in April 2004.

The offence attracts a fine of up to £2,500.

In August 2004, checks carried out in West Sussex using underage volunteers to buy paints found that 20% of high street retailers sold them illegally.

After a "No ID No Sale" poster and leaflet campaign the test purchase exercise was repeated in February 2005.

It found the number of stores which sold paint illegally fell to 9.4%.

Lottery tickets

All the stores and employees involved were cautioned.

"I am very pleased at the effect our campaign has had on the instances of these illegal sales," said Patrick Bligh-Chessman, head of West Sussex Trading Standards.

Age restrictions apply to a wide range of products including alcohol, tobacco, knives, videos and DVDs, fireworks, lottery tickets and solvents.

East Sussex trading standards boss Brian Johnson said he was pleased none of the retailers tested in the county sold cigarettes to the 13-year-old.

"This is the result we sought," he said.

"The law surrounding under-age sales of tobacco is there to protect youngsters from becoming addicted at an early age."

East Sussex said it would repeat test purchases using young volunteers with other products over the next year.