Trading standards officers are educating retailers to tackle the issues of under-age drinking and smoking in an area of Bradford.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards are working in partnership with Bradford Council, the Royds Area Committee and West Yorkshire Police to address the under-age issues in the Royds community.

Trading Standards officers are holding a Responsible Retailer training session to help shop bosses in the area, who sell alcohol and tobacco products, comply with the law.

They say it is vital that retailers and employees appreciate why age-restricted products must not be sold to underage children, because of the potential health and social consequences, and the risk to the seller of several courses of action which can be taken against them.

The training session will cover the important areas of under-age purchases, how the law applies to retailers and the penalties for breaches of the law. Retailers will also receive age-restricted product guidance, how to prevent under-age sales, staff training and proof of age guidance including how to spot fake IDs.

The session will provide an opportunity for retailers to share their concerns, highlight any issues and promote best practice to ensure legal compliance.

Graham Hebblethwaite, chief officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said: “We are determined to reduce the number of illegal sales and will continue to take legal action against the minority of traders who run premises where children can purchase alcohol and tobacco.

“We encourage retailers to attend the training as they should be aware that they face not only court action when committing these offences but also the possibility of losing their licence.”

Councillor Val Slater, chairman of the Trading Standards Committee, said: “We hope the training shows our commitment to controlling the sale of age-restricted products and that it will reduce anti-social behaviour in the community by preventing items being sold to young people.”

The training session will take place at 1pm tomorrow at the Sandale Centre, Sandale Walk, Buttershaw, Bradford.

If you are a business that sells age-restricted products and would like to book a place on the training session please contact Suzanne Kitchen on (0113) 3836433.