Laws and rules around age-restricted products have been known to change frequently with the times. It wasn’t all that long ago that the legal age for purchasing cigarettes and other similar products rose from 18 to 21.
We all dread a loud, rowdy or combative customer. It could be a minor who’s trying to bully their way into buying a product that’s prohibited. Or maybe someone of age who just doesn’t have their ID on them and is baffled why they’re being carded in the first place. Whatever the case is, tensions are getting high, and while it’s hardly fair, you as a store employee need to know what to do to calm things down.
Beginning September 30th, FDA’s new finalized rule requires retailers to verify with a valid government issued photo ID the age of anyone under 30 years old who tries to purchase tobacco products and vaping products.
We all know that products like cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco cannot be sold to people under the age of 21. And the same is true for vaping products as well. But some store employees may not know that nicotine pouches are an age-restricted product.
The We Card Program -- in its 29th year -- is shining a light this September on “responsible retailing” of age-restricted products and encourages retailers to make employee training a top priority.
Summer brings a unique set of challenges for convenience stores, particularly when it comes to preventing underage sales of tobacco and vaping products. The increase in customer traffic, the influx of tourists and the prevalence of group dynamics among young people require a tailored approach to employee training. Here are some essential tips to help your staff stay vigilant and effective during the busy summer months.
Trainees’ feedback helps us identify areas that might need improvement and lets us know what works in our training modules. Employees consistently rate We Card highly in areas that help them perform well on the job and prevent underage sales of age-restricted products
A customer comes to the checkout counter to buy a vape pod. The sales associate checks the customer’s ID, finds they are under age 21 and denies the purchase attempt. Then the customer’s older friend, who is of legal age, offers to buy it instead.
If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to order… while supplies last! As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the We Card Renewal Kit has the full complement of materials to ensure your employees are ready for Federal or State compliance inspections.
