Gloucestershire Trading Standards has reacted with disappointment after shops in Gloucestershire sold products containing corrosive substances to underage buyers in an undercover operation.
In total, 10 stores were visited and eight made sales to underage volunteers.
The test purchases were carried out by Trading Standards, with the support of police cadets, in February 2025. The volunteers visited stores across Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, the Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury.
Eight different businesses across Gloucestershire sold a product containing corrosive substances to a young person under 18, without any checks on their age or requests for identification. The products sold included brick and patio cleaner, plughole unblocker and caustic soda drain unblocker.
Gloucestershire Trading Standards will be contacting the shops that failed the test to inform them of the sale and offer advice on their legal obligations. If these businesses do not heed this advice and evidence of selling to minors is found in the future, then Trading Standards have warned that more formal action could be taken which could include prosecution.
The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 makes it an offence to sell certain products which have a high percentage of corrosive chemicals to under 18s. Products which may have a high percentage of chemicals such as caustic soda, drain cleaners/unblockers and patio cleaners contain such chemicals, which can be dangerous if not used correctly.
Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member for trading standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “It’s disappointing to see that a number of retailers in the county have sold products containing corrosive substances to underage buyers. It’s important they seek advice and ensure that age-restricted goods are not sold to young people. Our Trading Standards team will be offering relevant advice to these businesses.”
If a business is unsure of their obligations, then they can find advice on the Trading Standards website at https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/trading-standards/
