dilemma

[jack daniels]

I've put this in chatterbank too

My son is hoping to get a part time job BUT it involves selling newspapers, selling lottery tickets, confectionery and cigarettes.
The problem is, as he is 16 he can sell all items except for the cigarettes - he has to get permission from the manager to do this. The manager is at the other end of the premises running a post office.

The dilemma is...... how can my son get the permission to sell the cigarettes without having to shout across to ask ever time a sale is to be made?
Can someone think of a way they can communicate easily? - he can't keep leaving the counter unattended to ask either.
They can't do it by phone (long story) so come on Abers - this is a tough one.

TIA

[ACtheTROLL]

surely the manager's permission is implicit with the job?

as a sales assistant working for, and on behalf of the manager .... your son has the authority of the manager.

I'd say the only time your son needs authority is to refuse a sale

[jack daniels]

Thanks for replying but unfortunately he needs to ask & get permission everytime a sale is to be made.
I suppose it's like when you shop in a big supermarket, everytime a minor sells alcohol, they have to ask the older checkout person next to them

[ChuckFickens]

AC any sales staff are only allowed to sell a product they are not old enough to buy themselves with permission from an adult for each and every sale of that item.

Which is why when you try and buy a bottle of wine in a supermarket and there is a youngster on the till they have to call for a supervisor to get permission before they can put it through the till (some places even need a supervisor code to be entered into the till before it will accept an alcohol sale)

[ACtheTROLL]

the law is indeed an ass!
what genious thought that one up?
certainly encourages young 'uns to do something useful ...

when you say can't by phone ... legal or practical?
was thinking about an intercom

http://www.jpgelectronics.com/products.asp?par tno=P159G

quite frankly ... I think I'd lie ... 'course I gave him the nod ...
I assume the kid has enough sense not to sell fags to small kids ...

but with the hands free - there is an always on line of communication ... the manager must be keeping an eye on the shop and could deny if necessary.

if there is a doubt a quick beep to manager asks the question

[ACtheTROLL]

does the shop have CCTV? (surely it does!)
if manager hears beep - checks counter... 1 beep for yes ...

[jack daniels]

intercom should be fine

[spacechimp]

Semaphore?

[fo3nix]

I used to do this exact thing, back when I was 16.

The manager got round the fact by noting that the law requires someone over the age of 18 to be on the premises for me to sell alcohol.

So, unless the law has changed in the last 8 years or so (I don't think it has), then he can sell away without having to ask permission every time.

(I am not a lawyer.)

[ACtheTROLL]

can tell you're not a lawyer fo ... you make too much sense

[spacechimp]

Fo3nix, there must be a reason that every shop in the country requires someone over 18 to OK alcohol sales by under 16s, even if it's just to cover their backs...

[fo3nix]

Well the shop I worked in never required that.

As I say, my boss at the time (the store owner and licensee) looked into the laws around this, and found that someone over the age of 18 only needed to be on the premises for it to be a legal sale.

I think that they only have the policy of asking every time at places where they really want to be over-cautious, such as supermarkets (or places they have someone supervising the tills).

But as I say, the law may have changed since then, or I could be wrong; I'm not a lawyer.

[jack daniels]

I've finally spoken to the police & they've said that he would need to ask each & every time before he makes a sale.