Responsible Sales of Alcohol and Tobacco

At PPIH Group, we recognize our corporate social responsibility to ensure the well-being of our customers by proactively addressing and raising awareness of the potential health risks associated with alcohol and tobacco consumption, as our stores sell these products.
Recognizing the heightened health risks associated with alcohol consumption and smoking for individuals under the age of 20, we are dedicated to upholding our responsibility to society by diligently preventing the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors in our stores. Furthermore, we are committed to providing accurate and accessible information through POP displays, ensuring that it is available to both Japanese and foreign customers. We also offer low-alcohol beverage options to all customers over the age of 20. This approach underscores our dedication to promoting responsible alcohol and tobacco sales.

To ensure that all employees are well-informed about the relevant laws and company policies, we conduct training on "Compliance with Laws and Regulations Regarding the Sale of Products Subject to Age Restrictions". This critical training is held annually during our monthly compliance sessions for current employees and is also incorporated into the onboarding process for new hires.
Recognizing the diverse backgrounds of our workforce, including a considerable number of foreign national employees, we offer multilingual onboarding materials in languages such as English and Chinese. This approach ensures that all employees can fully understand and comply with the rules.

Part of the compliance training materials for employees

In our commitment to responsible sale, we actively prevent the sale of alcohol and tobacco to customers under the age of 20 by implementing age verification processes. For customers who appear to be underage, we conduct identification checks at the checkout.* We also provide clear notifications near the registers and in the alcohol section, stating that sales cannot proceed if the customer's age cannot be confirmed as 20 or older.

*In fully self-service registers, our employees are required to verify the age of customers before completing any sales, ensuring compliance with the relevant regulations.

The Store Compliance Department conducts audits 4 times a year to ensure that alcohol displays and categorization adhere to legal regulations regarding alcohol labeling. These audits also verify the installation of POP (in-store ads) materials that inform customers of the prohibition on selling alcohol and tobacco to individuals under 20, as well as prominently displayed posters indicating "Age Verification in Progress".

Signage for thorough age verification at the cash register

Signage Indicating the Alcohol Section

We strive to provide information in multiple languages to ensure that all foreign customers can understand important details.

We prominently display posters stating "Age Verification in Progress" on the shop floor and at the cash registers. Each employee's name tag is adorned with a sticker bearing the same message. This message is further reinforced being broadcast near the registers.
In addition, we have displayed posters in the employee break room to underscore the importance of age verification. Before the start of each shift, we ensure that all employees are aligned with our company rules by collectively reciting them.

In consideration of the health effects of alcohol, we utilize POPs and other methods to clearly indicate the alcohol content of our products, empowering customers to make informed choices that align with their individual needs. We also strive to offer non-alcoholic beverages as alternatives to alcoholic drinks.

Alcohol content information display

Information display for non-alcoholic beverages

We are actively developing non-alcoholic beverages for our original products to provide customers with options that align with their needs, allowing them to choose without concern for the effects of alcohol.
In addition, original products that contain alcohol are labeled in accordance with the voluntary standards of the alcoholic beverage industry (the "Voluntary Standards on Advertising and Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages and Alcoholic Beverage Containers" established by the Liaison Council on Alcohol Consumption). All alcoholic products are labeled with warnings against consumption by individuals under the age of 20, as well as by pregnant and nursing women. Additionally, products with low alcohol content, such as beer and RTDs (ready-to-drink beverages), display an "お酒"(Alcohol) mark to prevent confusion with soft drinks.

Original non-alcoholic beverages

Labeling of original products containing alcohol