Shop staff may ask to lower face masks when selling age-restricted products

Shop staff may ask customers to lower their face masks or face covering to verify age when selling age-restricted products, the ACS has clarified.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has urged retailers to continue enforcing Challenge 25 policies when serving customers wearing face masks.

Shop staff should request to briefly remove the mask or face covering where they cannot confidently verify the age.

If the customer is unwilling to do this, the sale should be refused, the ACS added.

“We have received this important clarification from Trading Standards and this best practice advice will help retailers navigate the sale of age-restricted products in light of the ongoing situation with the coronavirus outbreak,” James Lowman, chief executive of the ACS, commented.

The ACS has also made available a poster for retailers to communicate the advice to customers.