Top 5 reasons why age checks are needed

As Centrebound are experts in providing mystery shopping and age checking services, we’ve looked at the top five reasons why companies that sell age restricted items need to be carrying out age checks.

1. Legal Compliance: In many countries, there are laws that prohibit the sale of age-restricted goods, such as tobacco, alcohol, and knives, to individuals under a certain age. By carrying out age checks, companies can ensure that they are complying with these laws and avoid legal penalties.

2. Social Responsibility: Companies have a social responsibility to prevent minors from accessing age-restricted goods. By carrying out age checks, companies can demonstrate that they take this responsibility seriously and are committed to protecting minors from harm.

3. Reputation Management: Selling age-restricted goods to minors can damage a company’s reputation and lead to negative publicity. By carrying out age checks, companies can avoid this risk and maintain a positive image.

4. Liability: If a company sells age-restricted goods to a minor, they may be held liable for any harm caused by the goods. By carrying out age checks, companies can reduce their liability and protect themselves from legal action.

5. Customer Safety: Age-restricted goods, such as knives and fireworks, can be dangerous if not used responsibly. By carrying out age checks, companies can help ensure that their customers are aware of the risks and are able to use the goods safely and responsibly.

Rather than attempt to carry out age checks internally, companies may outsource their age checks to a mystery shopping company for several reasons:

1.Expertise: A mystery shopping company specialises in assessing customer service and compliance in various industries, including those that require age verification. By outsourcing their age checks to a mystery shopping company, the company can ensure that the age verification process is done correctly and efficiently.

2. Cost-effective: It can be more cost-effective for a company to outsource their age checks to a mystery shopping company rather than hiring and training their own staff to do it. This is especially true for companies that may not need age verification services on a regular basis.

3. Unbiased assessment: A mystery shopping company can provide an unbiased assessment of the age verification process. This is because the mystery shopper is not an employee of the company and therefore has no vested interest in the outcome of the assessment.

4. Compliance: Age verification is an important compliance issue, especially for companies in industries such as alcohol and tobacco. By outsourcing their age checks to a mystery shopping company, the company can ensure that they are complying with all relevant laws and regulations.

Overall, outsourcing age checks to a mystery shopping company can be a cost-effective and efficient way for a company to ensure that their age verification process is done correctly and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.