In the UK, the sale of fireworks is tightly regulated to ensure safety and prevent misuse. The Fireworks Regulations 2004 and the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 establish strict guidelines for the sale and use of fireworks, categorised by their hazard level:
The sale of fireworks is also limited to specific periods around major festivals, such as Chinese New Year, Diwali, Bonfire Night, and New Year, unless sold by licensed traders.
These regulations aim to ensure fireworks are used safely and responsibly, while reducing the risks associated with their misuse.
As the leading provider of Age Verification Compliance Audits in the UK and Ireland, Serve Legal works year-round to support retailers in meeting age verification policies for age-restricted products, including alcohol, knives, lottery tickets, tobacco, and vapes.
During festive periods, when fireworks sales peak, Serve Legal offers specialised audits to help retailers ensure compliant sales. These audits play a crucial role in preventing the sale of fireworks to underage individuals, thereby enhancing public safety and supporting responsible retail practices.
To tailor our programmes to the specific needs of each retailer, we offer both 'ID' and 'No ID' audit processes. The 'No ID' process adds an extra layer of verification by assessing whether staff will proceed with a sale when a customer fails to present ID. This approach evaluates whether employees are confident in their training and workplace policies to refuse the sale and properly document the failed transaction.
Serve Legal's data from recent years reveals trends in compliance with fireworks sales regulations, highlighting both areas of success and opportunities for improvement in retailers who use both ID and No ID processes.
Retailers utilising our ID Firework Audits have seen a notable improvement in compliance over the last few years. One prominent retailer achieved a remarkable increase of over 7% in their age verification compliance since starting the audits six years ago, ultimately reaching an impressive pass rate of 93%.
Retailers that have integrated our No ID audit processes as an additional level of age verification stress testing have also seen notable improvements. For example, one client has achieved a 7.5% increase in compliance over four years of testing.
We have also noticed a trend regarding compliance levels throughout the day: retailers engaged in both ID and No ID audits have shown to exhibit the highest levels of compliance in the evening (after 5 PM) while the lowest compliance rates occur in the afternoon (12PM - 5 PM).
Understanding these patterns can be invaluable for retailers, as they provide insights into staff performance and potential training gaps. By identifying specific times when compliance wanes, retailers can tailor their training programmes and allocate resources more effectively, ultimately driving improvements in compliance rates.
Do you think your business would pass a Serve Legal audit?
Whilst it can be disappointing to fail an audit from our team, the frustration is nothing in comparison to the consequences of a failed Trading Standards audit. We are here to strengthen your compliance systems before local authorities get involved.
At Serve Legal, we have conducted thousands of audits to provide valuable insights into Firework age verification compliance, and we are pleased to see consistent progress across the industry.
As the festive season approaches and fireworks sales increase, it is crucial for retailers to prioritise compliance with age verification regulations. Our tailored audits can help ensure your business meets these standards while promoting safe retail practices. By leveraging our insights into compliance trends, you can identify areas for improvement and enhance staff training.
Get in touch with our team today to discover how we can support your business in maintaining compliance and ensuring safe sales during this busy period.