Social Responsibility Policy
Amenity and good order
Like all alcohol licences, off licences can have a negative impact on the local environment if poorly managed and holders of off licences need to consider how they will manage these impacts around their premises.
Factors such as, litter, graffiti and anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on the local area. Failure to manage the local amenity and good order can cause concerns for the local community and lead to public objections.
Off licence holders should be aware that amenity and good order is not linked to only the effect their premises has on the area, but the impact that alcohol generally has on an area and as such must be proactive about managing the impact of alcohol generally.
A social responsibility policy should consider:
- Not tolerating disorderly or offensive behaviour in or around the premises.
- Monitoring activity outside the premises in relation to antisocial behaviour
- Managing access to the premises where necessary to prevent access by intoxicated persons.
- Routinely maintain the locality directly around the premises e.g., rubbish/graffiti removal etc
- Understanding the community in which the premises is based
Minors
Off licences need robust procedures in place to ensure that no sales occur to under age persons.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 has significant penalties for sale of alcohol to minors so licence holders need to consider their procedures carefully. This should include careful scrutiny of identification as well as who the alcohol may be intended for e.g., older patrons purchasing alcohol for under age persons.
If the business undertakes remote sales (e.g., internet, phone or catalogue orders) the business will need to implement processes that comply with sections 14 & 15 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations 2013. This extends to how the alcohol is delivered and who can receive it so the business may need to work with courier companies to consider an appropriate process. (see also remote sales section)
There are useful tools available to licence holders to assist with age identification including:
- Date of birth check cards
- Computer system prompts on tills (ask your IT provider)
Managing Intoxication
The licence holder will need processes in place to identify potentially intoxicated customers to prevent sales to them. The business will need strategies in place to handle these patrons.
Staff training
On licence holders need to have training processes in place to ensure that staff have sufficient ability to manage alcohol sold from the premises.
A social responsibility policy should outline:
- Who will carry out training and what records will be kept?
- What tools the business has to ensure minors and intoxicated persons are identified.
- What actions are expected of staff when dealing with minors or intoxicated persons.
- How often refresher training will be completed.
- What the businesses age ID procedures are (including remote sales if applicable)
Training can include:
- Staff induction training
- Regular staff meetings
- In house training sessions
- External training sessions
- Online training sessions (see below)
- Staff mentoring
Online training providers for host responsibility include:
Provision of duty managers
All licensed premises are required by law to have sufficient certificated managers on duty at all times that alcohol is being sold or supplied. A social responsibility policy should outline how this will be achieved.
Alcohol promotion
Licensees need to ensure that any promotions they undertake for their premises are not deemed to be irresponsible.
Irresponsible promotion includes anything that encourages people, or is likely to encourage people, to consume alcohol to an excessive extent.
The Act creates offensive and penalties for promotions deemed to be irresponsible and licence holders need to consider this when advertising or promoting their premises.
Irresponsible promotions can include (but are not limited to):
- Promotion of free alcohol (including free samples)
- Promotion of heavily discounted alcohol outside of the premises (>25% of the ordinary sale price)
- Promotion of alcohol as a prize
- Promotion of alcohol to minors
- Wording such as crazy or massive discounts
