Margaret Moran MP introduced in January this year her Ten Minute Rule Bill “Online Purchasing of Goods and Services (Age Verification)”, which would require online retailers and those who facilitate the sale of goods and services online to abide by the laws of the land in respect of age-restrictions. The Bill will be introduced in the House of Lords by Baroness Doreen Massey.

The public is increasingly concerned about the availability of knives and alcohol to under-age youngsters, yet there are most often no age-checks online. Currently many online retailers simply ask customers to confirm their age by ticking a box and take no other measures to verify whether the person meets the age criteria. The Bill is intended to encourage the online retail industry to take positive steps to ensure age compliance and to close the loophole which is allowing youngsters to buy over the internet age-restricted goods which they could never get from a shop on the High Street.