In August and November, purchase trials were carried out in Tampere and neighbouring municipalities to examine how age-limit enforcement for alcohol and nicotine products is handled in retail shops.
A total of 354 purchase trials were conducted. These targeted supermarkets of various sizes, as well as kiosks and service stations in Tampere, Kangasala, Lempäälä, Nokia, Pirkkala and Ylöjärvi.
In 78.8 per cent of the outlets, young buyers were asked to provide proof of age. In the remainder, no proof was requested. In a few cases, alcohol or nicotine products were sold even though the young person could not present identification.
This year’s trials revealed clear differences between municipalities in how easily alcohol and nicotine products could be purchased.
– Age-limit enforcement was carried out more carefully in Tampere than in the region overall, says Johanna Heine, Coordinator of preventive substance abuse work at the City of Tampere.
– It is encouraging that Tampere’s business operators act responsibly in the sale of age-restricted products. We are grateful to them. Ensuring age-limit enforcement has been shown to be an important part of preventive work, Heine continues.
The trials investigated whether proof of age was requested from adult test buyers, approximately 18–20 years old, when they attempted to purchase alcohol or nicotine products. It was also monitored whether the products were sold afterwards.
The purchase trials were carried out by vocational college students as part of their studies. This was the first time such extensive trials had been conducted in the Tampere Region.
The purchase trials were organised as part of the regional Pakka activity, which promotes preventive substance abuse work. Pakka involves representatives of the business community, the restaurant sector, shopping centres, the Regional State Administrative Agency, the police, and professionals and experts from different fields within the wellbeing services county, municipalities and organisations. The information obtained from the test purchases is utilised in the Pakka work.
The Pakka operating model was developed by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to prevent local harms caused by alcohol, tobacco and gambling. It forms part of the preventive substance abuse work carried out in the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county.
