CJ Lang & Son is to scrap its Challenge 21 policy in favour of a stricter Challenge 25 plan from March 1.
The move, designed to stamp out underage sales, follows extensive retraining of all its 2,000 staff and the redrafting of company procedures.
In the run-up to Christmas, senior executives from the Dundee-based company, including directors, got behind the counter to experience for themselves the problems encountered by staff when refusing sales.
"We can see that it can be intimidating to face confident and mature-looking youths who attempt to purchase alcohol," said Spar controller Chris Endersen, who participated in the exercise. "It is, therefore, paramount that staff are trained to remain vigilant and have robust procedures to detect and prevent potential underage sales. It is also critical for us to support them as they bear the brunt of this policing."
C J Lang is also distributing a To Sell Or Not To Sell training kit to all its stores.