Calls to better bottle-o’s ID checks

MORE than half of the bottle shops tested in a recent Bendigo Community Health Services project sold alcohol to underage appearing staff.

The BCHS Health Promotion Team visited 30 businesses for the Supply Monitoring Project and team member Kahla Else called on businesses to stay vigilant following the results.

“It was encouraging that 12 bottle shops followed the law to the letter but really disappointing 18 did not,” she said.

“It’s concerning that some outlets are just not abiding by liquor licensing laws.

“If we are serious about reducing the impact alcohol has on communities then it’s essential that the practices and laws put in place to protect young people and stop habits being formed are strictly followed.”

Of the 18 outlets who failed to adhere to liquor laws, two asked for the BCHS team member’s identification but proceeded to sell alcohol to them when they said they had no ID on them.

In a further breakdown of results, Ms Else said different types of businesses yielded different results.

“We found 41 per cent of the chain stores we visited sold alcohol without seeing ID but this rose sharply to 66.6 per cent of independent and 90 per cent of franchise alcohol outlets.

“If we are to truly stop the impact alcohol is having on our communities then everyone must play their role,” she said.

BCHS have written to all 30 businesses involved in the project to share its results with them and encourage greater staff responsibility around the sale of alcohol.