ACS Advice

ACS Welcomes Progress on Digital ID Adoption for All Age Restricted Sales

ACS has welcomed progress on a change in the law that would allow digital ID to be used for the sale of alcohol for the first time.

Digital ID has been growing and developing in recent years, with a number of providers offering solutions for retailers to support them with their responsibility to prevent underage sales. However, to date, digital ID solutions have not been permitted for use when approving the sale of alcohol.

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ACS Welcomes Progress on Digital ID Adoption for All Age Restricted Sales

ACS has welcomed progress on a change in the law that would allow digital ID to be used for the sale of alcohol for the first time.

Digital ID has been growing and developing in recent years, with a number of providers offering solutions for retailers to support them with their responsibility to prevent underage sales. However, to date, digital ID solutions have not been permitted for use when approving the sale of alcohol.

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ACS Launches Decline09 Campaign to Simplify Generational Tobacco Ban Changes

The Association of Convenience Stores has launched a new awareness campaign to help retailers, colleagues and consumers with incoming rules on age verification for tobacco products.

The Decline09 campaign, backed by leading retailers and the Chartered Institute for Trading Standards is launching today at ACS’ Safe and Responsible Retailing Conference in Birmingham. It has been developed in consultation with the Department for Health and Social Care.

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ACS Launches Decline09 Campaign to Simplify Generational Tobacco Ban Changes

The Association of Convenience Stores has launched a new awareness campaign to help retailers, colleagues and consumers with incoming rules on age verification for tobacco products.

The Decline09 campaign, backed by leading retailers and the Chartered Institute for Trading Standards is launching today at ACS’ Safe and Responsible Retailing Conference in Birmingham. It has been developed in consultation with the Department for Health and Social Care.

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Tough Enforcement Needed against Rogue Traders as Disposable Vape Ban Comes into Force

The Association of Convenience Stores has called for more resources for Trading Standards officers to be able to enforce against the rogue traders that are blatantly ignoring the law and selling illicit vapes and other products.

The call comes as a UK-wide ban on disposable vapes comes into force on June 1st, with only vapes that are both refillable and rechargeable legal for sale from that date.

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ACS Sets Out Challenges Faced by the Sector, Pledges to Lead Response

ACS (The Association of Convenience Stores) has outlined the challenges faced by the convenience sector this year, pledging to lead the sector’s response to helping retailers navigate and tackle these challenges.

The sector has been facing increases in NIC contributions, higher business rates relief and an increased National Living wage, all announced at the Autumn Budget last year. These costs are making it more difficult for local shops to invest in serving their communities.

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Less than Three Months to Go Until Disposable Vape Ban Comes Into Force

Retail groups and enforcement bodies urge businesses to get ready ahead of June 1st

The Association of Convenience Stores, Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Local Government Association are calling on retailers who sell vape products to ensure that they will comply with the introduction of a ban on disposable vaping products, coming into force on June 1st 2025.

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ACS Launches Guide for Retailers on ‘Simpler Recycling’ Regulations Coming in March

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched new guidance for retailers in England detailing what they have to do to stay on the right side of the law when new rules on separating waste come into force in March.

From March 31st 2025, businesses (meaning the entire business, not just one store) with more than 10 full time equivalent employees will be required to separate their waste into four different streams. Those with fewer than 10 FTE employees will have until March 2027 to comply.  

The four waste streams that will need to be segregated are:

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