AGE Check, an innovative scheme to stamp out the sales of products including cigarettes and solvents to under-age children, was launched at Saints on Wednesday, November 1.

The proof of age project involves Trading Standards officers from St Helens, Knowsley, Wirral, Sefton and the City of Liverpool councils working together to raise awareness among retailers of the steps they can take to ensure that potentially harmful products are not supplied to youngsters.

Age Check will provide fact sheets, good practice guides and age check posters to retailers. And in conjunction with Validate UK, which has operated similar schemes elsewhere in the UK, a number of schools within the region will be involved with the issuing of proof of age cards to pupils as they reach their 16th birthday.

Councillor, Terry Hanley, St Helens Council Cabinet Member for Environmental Protection, said: "The campaign message to retailers and youngsters is 'no proof, no sales.' Retailers must say that if you can't prove how old you are, we are not going to serve you. The onus is on the trader to request proof of age from the youngsters who will need to obtain a means of proof of age and use it.

"Currently, retailers have few reliable means of validating a young person's age when they request age-restricted goods."