WORCESTER will be visited by mystery shoppers to check if stores are at risk of selling tobacco products to under 18s as part of a national initiative to stub out underage smoking.

Independent retailers in the Midlands, including Worcestershire, are to receive training support on age restricted products as three major UK tobacco manufacturers invest in a proof-of-age compliance scheme for independent retailers.

The scheme will see thousands of retailers in the UK visited by 18 or 19 year old test purchasers who will check the retailers’ adoption of the ‘No ID, No Sale!’ policy when dealing with purchasers who are only just of legal age to buy tobacco.

Stores identified as being ‘at risk’ will be offered free-of-charge, accredited training from former Trading Standards officers The scheme is being rolled out in the Midlands from the beginning of next month, following a successful pilot in the North West of England in 2014.

A compliance programme to reduce youth access to tobacco was launched in March 2015 by Japan Tobacco International, Philip Morris Limited, and Imperial Tobacco Limited, who collectively cover the majority of the UK tobacco market.

As part of the Responsible Tobacco Retailing programme, thousands of independent retailers across the UK will be mystery shopped to see if they are ‘at risk’ of potentially selling tobacco products to people under the age of 18, and will be offered free training support if they are.

A total of 1,277 retailers in the Midlands will be tested.

The test purchasing will be provided by Serve Legal Ltd, a leading London-based supplier of independent test purchasing services for retailers of age-restricted products including alcohol, gambling and tobacco.