Hi-tech tool spots child drinkers

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Title – Hi-tech tool spots child drinkers
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 13th May 2008

Any new technology that can make the role of staff easier and protect children from harm by restricting their access to alcohol should be welcomed, but many will think this is a step too far. Undoubtedly this potentially expensive technology’s benefits have been weighed up by Budgens against the problem of alcohol sales to underage drinkers.

The question is how effective such technology really is against good staff training programmes and a strong system of work within the stores themselves. The technology is certainly not a replacement for these.

As I understand it for this technology to work it is reliant on a database created by staff themselves. In effect they have to ‘catch’ people trying to buy alcohol, knives and cigarettes while under age and register those people on the database so that on any future attempt they can be recognised and stopped at the point of sale, until such time as they can prove they are old enough.

It therefore remains vitally important that staff are well trained in licensing law and how to check ‘proof of age’ by attending a course such as the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR) and that businesses have strict systems in place to ensure underage sales do not take pace such as the ‘Challenge 21’ scheme.

If these two remain the foundation of good practice and the foundation of a due diligence defence should staff ignore the guidelines you set, then how strong is the advantage in this technology? Certainly it should not be written off anything that can help staff in saving time at the point of sale and help reduce flash points should be welcomed, but it will be interesting to see what reaction they get from the public.

The backlash against national identity cards is substantial, people are increasingly aware of identity theft and although there is no suggestion that this system is susceptible to that; public perception of being added to yet another database may not be favourable. If it is a struggle to get the public to agree to biometric checks at vulnerable points such as airports, how are they going to feel about face recognition technology being used when they go out to buy a bottle of wine and a few snacks at their local Budgens?

Technology has helped businesses and society in many different areas and technology continues to help the licensed retail sector. If this trial is deemed to be a success, how many other ‘big retailers’ will join such a scheme which undoubtedly relies on a large take-up to ensure real success?

For now staff training and effective management remain the corner stone of protecting children from the harm of alcohol.

Beyond The Blue offers training to the licensed retail sector in the portfolio of BIIAB courses ranging from the ARAR to the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH) and the Award in Conflict Management (ACM).
Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk