A MAJOR campaign aimed at reducing the number of children buying age-restricted goods, such as fireworks, cigarettes and alcohol, has been launched. The Think 21 campaign is a joint initiative between Cambridgeshire County Council s Trading Standards and

A MAJOR campaign aimed at reducing the number of children buying age-restricted goods, such as fireworks, cigarettes and alcohol, has been launched.

The Think 21 campaign is a joint initiative between Cambridgeshire County Council's Trading Standards and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

It is encouraging retailers to request identification from all customers attempting to buy any age-restricted products if they appear to be under 21.

Nikki Piper, of Trading Standards, said: "We appreciate that it can be difficult to accurately gauge the age of young people but, by encouraging retailers of all age-restricted products to ask for ID from all customers who look under 21 years old, traders will be less likely to make illegal sales."

The launch of the campaign forms part of an initiative which has brought together representatives from the county council, district councils, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, youth groups, Primary Care Trusts and community safety agencies, as well as trade associations and retailers.

Ms Piper said: "There is a very clear link between the instances of anti social-behaviour, health problems and the sales of age-restricted items, such as alcohol and tobacco products, as well as solvents and offensive weapons.

"By supporting the Think 21 Campaign across the county, retailers will not only be able to actively help their communities to become more pleasant areas in which to live and work, but also reduce associated health problems in young people and safeguard their own livelihoods by not being caught out in test purchase operations that will continue to take place across the county."

Any retailers, members of the public or community organisations wishing to learn more about the work being undertaken on reducing under-age sales, should contact Cambridgeshire County Council on underagesales@cambridgeshire.gov.uk