News release

Don't Buy for Minors Campaign and Check 25 Program

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation

N.S. LIQUOR CORPORATION--Don't Buy for Minors Campaign and Check 25 Program


Those who buy alcohol for minors and minors who try to buy alcohol will find it more difficult thanks to the efforts of the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation.

The corporation will launch its annual Don't Buy for Minors and Check 25 ID campaign to increase awareness of the problem of underage drinking and deter second-party purchases. The campaign will run from March 11 to 16, coinciding with the March break.

The Don't Buy for Minors campaign, first introduced in the mid- 1980s, involves liquor store staff checking identification for proof of age. Newspaper ads and posters displayed in stores promote responsible use of alcohol.

As part of the campaign, the liquor corporation will be using the Check 25 program. People shopping in liquor stores who appear to be aged 25 or younger are asked to provide proof of age. The legal age to purchase alcohol in Nova Scotia is 19.

"Our goal is not only to verify they are of legal drinking age, but also to continue to raise awareness on issues surrounding underage drinking and buying alcohol for minors," said Mr. Strickey.

All liquor store employees will take a lead role in making the campaign a success. Last year alone, staff at liquor stores asked more than 250,000 customers for legal identification.

More than 16,000 customers were turned away as a result of inadequate identification, up from 12,000 in the previous year. Employees questioned over 2,000 customers who were suspected to be buying alcohol for minors.

"Underage drinking is a serious issue. We all need to play our part to ensure that minors access to alcohol is restricted as much as possible," said John Strickey, vice-president of store operations. "Our employees take an active role in supporting and managing many of our socially responsible retailing programs."

Staff participate in a provincewide training program designed to improve skills on ID challenges and customer service.

The liquor corporation will conduct over 250,000 ID checks within its retail stores this year.