In every country, it is a challenge for those serving or selling alcoholic beverages to make sure they do not serve underage people. A number of initiatives are available across Europe, among which the Schu-Ju.de online training tool launched in 2007 in Germany.
The training is sanctioned by an online test and the certificate that is delivered in case of success is increasingly recognized and asked for by employers in the horeca sector. The training tool helps trainees and employees in the on- and off-trade to learn why and how to refuse service to underage people. Brochures and an “age control” reminder display for bars and shops are distributed to complement the online training. A staggering 135,700 people have been “Schu-ju.de” certified between 2007 and the end of 2013.
The programme has been evaluated twice since the launch and the last evaluation in November/December 2013 shows very positive results. Overall, those who have been through “Schu-Ju“-training challenge the age of their customers significantly more often than those who have not been through training (Schu-Ju participants express doubts up to 5.4 times on average a week compared to 2.1 times for the control group). But more important, they ask significantly more often for a proof of age: 7.7 times a week compared to 3.4 times in the control group. The initiative is supported by co-operation partners from all relevant industries: bars, shops, patrol stations, restaurants etc (more).
