How to Prevent the Sale of Alcohol and Tobacco to Minors in Retail Stores?

The sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors presents a significant challenge for retailers. Not only is this practice illegal, but it can also have severe consequences for retail businesses, ranging from hefty financial penalties to damage to their reputation. For retailers, it is crucial to implement effective measures to prevent these sales, thereby protecting both their business and young consumers.

In this article, we spoke with Marc-Andre Plaisance, Director of Loss Prevention at GardaWorld Security, who shares his advice on how to prevent this issue and ensure compliance within stores.

Marc-Andre, can you tell us what the consequences of selling tobacco and alcohol to minors are for retailers?

Selling tobacco and alcohol to minors is not only illegal but can also severely damage a merchant’s reputation. Retailers face heavy fines; for example, fines for selling tobacco to minors can range from $2,500 to $62,500 for a first offense, and up to $125,000 for repeat offenses, not to mention the potential suspension of their sales license. Beyond financial penalties, there is also a risk of losing customer trust, which can harm retailer reputation and lead to a drop in sales. Moreover, there is the public health impact, as selling these products to minors increases their risk of developing addictions and serious illnesses. Recently, the Access-Alcohol Unit of the Longueuil Agglomeration Police Department (SPAL) reported that over forty convenience stores were caught selling alcohol to minors in the Montérégie region. This underscores the importance of taking measures to ensure compliance with laws on sales to minors.

What measures can retailers take to prevent the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors?

A proactive approach is essential. At GardaWorld Security, we recommend that retailers conduct regular compliance visits. This involves sending mystery clients aged between 18 and 24, who appear youthful, to test the store’s sales practices. If they manage to purchase restricted products without their identity being checked, it highlights a failure in following procedures. After each visit, we generate a detailed report that we discuss with the client. This helps identify areas for improvement and recommend corrective actions before a government inspection takes place.

What is the most important recommendation you make to retailers?

The key recommendation is that every employee should always ask for identification from any customer who appears to be under 25 and refuse the sale if the customer is under 18. This rule should be clearly stated in every employee’s file from the moment they are hired. Additionally, it is crucial for employers to regularly remind their teams of this obligation, especially during training sessions. Compliance visits also help reinforce this vigilance by testing in-store practices.

What trends have you observed recently during compliance visits?

Since the beginning of 2024, we have seen an increase in the failure rate during our compliance visits related to the sale of tobacco and alcohol. This highlights the importance of strengthening preventive measures, not only to protect young people but also to limit the risks for the store. Ultimately, these precautions allow retailers to demonstrate their commitment to respecting the law and maintaining a responsible sales environment.

Thank you, Marc-Andre, for sharing your expertise on how compliance visits can help combat the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors.

Contact GardaWorld Security loss prevention services to learn more about  compliance visits.