In August you may already have seen the announcement at the pumping station: ‘100 percent age control when selling tobacco’. Since 1 October, that measure has to help prevent aggression against employees. But in practice not everyone will have to show their identity certificate.
Various organizations are active within the fuels industry that are not all equally about the initiative. BOVAG, an organization with a few hundred gas stations in the Netherlands, is participating. “Everyone who wants to buy cigarettes must show his ID,” says spokesman Paul de Waal to Nu.nl. He emphasizes that it is not a nix campaign, but a call. “Equal monks, equal hoods.”
Earlier everyone under the age of 25 had to identify themselves to buy cigarettes. Now De Waal hopes that everyone does that “to prevent hassle”. The spokesperson refers to aggression against employees. “It is often about verbal aggression, but physical aggression is also too common.” For example, people who claim that they are older than 25 are sometimes angry when they are asked for their ID.
Industry organization Nove, with more than two thousand gas stations, about half of which is staffed, is also behind the initiative. Spokesperson Erik de Vries recognizes aggression, especially when young people are checked at their age. “That is why we support this initiative correctly. Even if that means that you have to ask someone of eighty for his ID,” says De Vries. “This is already happening in many countries.”
Andre Braakman from trade association Drive, with more than seventeen hundred pumping stations of which eleven hundred are manned, agrees that aggression is common. He has no exact figures, but “at an average station in the Randstad we think of about twice a week”.
Solidarity to employees
Although Braakman says that he will participate in the 100 percent request, he emphasizes that people who are clearly older than eighteen years old do not have to show an ID. The 58-year-old BBB leader Caroline van der Plas did that, she recently wrote on X. She did not get any cigarettes because she did not have an ID.
Braakman finds that exaggerated. Only “when in doubt, 100 percent control applies”. “Our course of action is in accordance with the law. If we cannot unmistakably determine that the buyer is older than eighteen, we ask for identification.”
So that is not in line with what the industry peers ask for. According to the Waal of BOVAG, it is intended that people of eighty now also show their ID at the desk. “It’s about solidarity to our employees,” says De Waal. According to him, that is the easiest and “hassle” is avoided with that.
If you want to buy cigarettes at the pump, you can be asked to be asked for your ID regardless of your age. But if you are clearly older than eighteen, it will probably not happen 100 percent of the times.
In August, you May Have Already Seen the Announcement at the Gas Station: ‘100 percent Age Check on Tobacco Sales’. This Measure Should Help to Prevent Aggression Against Employees Since October 1st. But in practice, not everyone will have to show their id.
Within the fuel industry, there are Several Organizations Active that are not all equally firm about the initiative. BOVAG, An Organization with Several Hundred Gas Stations in The Netherlands, is Participating. “Everyone Who Wants To Buy Cigarettes Must Show Their Id,” Says Spokesperson Paul de Waal to Nu.nl. He emphasizes that this is not a nix campaign, but a call. “Equal Monks, Equal Caps.”
Previously, everyone under the age of 25 had to identify themselves to buy cigarettes. Now De Waal hopes that everyone will do so “to avoid hassle”. The spokesperson refers to aggression against employees. “It is often verbal aggression, but physical aggression also occurs too often.” For example, people who claim to be older than 25 sometimes get angry when asked for their ID.
Industry organization Nove, with more than two thousand gas stations, about half of which are manned, also supports the initiative. Spokesperson Erik de Vries recognizes the aggression, especially when young people are checked on their age. “That’s why we support this initiative. Even if it means asking someone of eighty for their ID,” says de Vries. “This already happens in many countries.”
Andre Braakman of industry organization Drive, with over seventeen hundred gas stations, eleven hundred of which are manned, confirms that aggression is common. He does not have exact figures, but “at an average station in the Randstad, we think about twice a week.”
Solidarity towards employees
Although Braakman therefore says he is participating in the 100 percent request, he emphasizes that people who are clearly older than eighteen do not have to show their ID as far as he is concerned. The 58-year-old BBB leader Caroline van der Plas did experience this, she recently wrote on X. She was not given cigarettes because she did not have ID with her.
Braakman thinks that is exaggerated. Only “in case of doubt does 100 percent control apply”. “Our method of operation is in accordance with the law. If we cannot unequivocally establish that the buyer is older than eighteen, we ask for identification.”
That is not in line with what the industry peers are asking for. According to De Waal of BOVAG, it is indeed the intention that people of eighty will also show their ID at the counter from now on. “It’s about solidarity towards our employees,” says De Waal. According to him, that is the easiest and “hassle” is avoided with it.
If you want to buy cigarettes at the gas station, you can be asked for your ID at the counter regardless of your age. But if you are clearly older than eighteen, that probably doesn’t happen 100 percent of the time.