Retailers should not be viewed as the “villains” when the issue of tobacco and alcohol sales is raised in communities, convenience stores have said.
Speaking in response to Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s document Fair Rules for Strong Communities, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said the perception that many shopkeepers sell drink and cigarettes to youngsters has to be challenged.
It said the majority of retailers work with police and communities to prevent sales to people who are underage.
And the ACS suggested that this approach has to be encouraged in the future because this can reduce problems related to the issue much better than an “adversarial approach”.
On-the-spot fines for shoplifters also “do not seem to be working”, the organisation said.
According to the ACS, the penalty is handed out numerous times to the same individuals, proving that they are re-offending.
The outfit said that ministers should review sanctions put in place to deal with criminals operating in these stores.
Moreover, the government has a duty to ensure that communities thrive and the grocery sector runs fairly, also seeing that supermarkets do not control local markets, the ACS said.
It recommends the proposed supermarket ombudsman should be created as soon as possible.
“Bringing these measures in will make communities stronger and should be a priority,” the ACS said.
In his document, Brown said that the country is stronger when communities are strong, and set out a number of reforms in areas including crime, policing and business rules.
Last week, the ACS criticised the government’s decision to go ahead with the planned 5% increase in business rates, because of the current economic situation.
