BURY is pioneering yet another national scheme with the introduction of its own 16+ Proof of Age card scheme.

The borough has become one of the first in the country to introduce the initiative, in conjunction with the Responsible Retailer Award, although it is based on a tried and tested project already in operation in Essex.

There, it resulted in a reduction in under-age sales with retailers having a reliable means of verifying the age of young people before serving them with age restricted goods, such as cigarettes and solvents.

It also means that the unfair burden placed on retailers in regard to under-age sales is lifted to some extent as the scheme helps them stay within the law by operating a "no card, no sale" policy.

The scheme was launched at Bury Town Hall when invited guests, including a number of school pupils, were welcomed by Bury Council chief executive Dennis Taylor.

Speeches were made by the authority's public protection spokesman, Councillor Mike Connolly, and Bury's divisional police commander, Chief Superintendent Phil Hollowood.

Coun Connolly said: "Proof of age schemes have been encouraged by the Government in the recent White Paper 'Smoking Kills' as a means of tackling under-age smoking.

"The scheme should also help to prevent, among other things, under-age sales of solvents, videos, lottery tickets and scratch cards."

He added: "The benefit to young people is that they will easily be able to prove their age when they are buying or hiring videos or going to places such as the cinema or other establishments where age restrictions are in place. "Our Trading Standards regularly receive complaints about retailers selling age-restricted goods to under-age people."

Coun Connolly continued: " We hope that this new scheme will lead to a dramatic reduction of those incidents and subsequent complaints."

In recent weeks, Year 10 pupils at schools in Bury have been photographed for the production of the Proof of Age cards.

"These will be supplied to individuals on their 16th birthday, free of charge, and we think they will quickly become accepted," Coun Connolly went on.

"This is a significant step forward and I am glad that Bury is at the forefront in the introduction of such an initiative."

Ch Supt Hollowood said: "We deal with many incidents involving young people which take up a lot of police time.

"Many are fuelled by alcohol. This scheme will help reduce the problems these cause."

Funding for the scheme has come from a variety of sources including the Greater Manchester Police Shrievalty Trust, Bury Health Promotion Unit, Greater Manchester Action on Smoking, and Bury Council's own local democracy unit.

Local retailers are currently being supplied with a leaflet which outlines the law and the details of the scheme with a sticker to display, advising customers of the "no proof, no sales" policy.

All young cardholders will also receive a booklet about age-restricted goods and useful information about their own rights as young consumers.

Pictured playing their cards right are Prestwich High pupils (from left) Robert Wallworth, Haylie Meert and Mark Gray, all aged 15. Pictured (back) are: Bury Council chief executive Dennis Taylor; Coun Mike Connolly, and Bury Police divisional commander Ch Supt Phil Hollowood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.