• Working in teams, under the supervision of an experienced Investigator, 1,2 or 3 mystery shoppers will visit an outlet.
• Teams are dressed and act in a manner that suggests they are potentially below the legal age for purchasing the product concerned (alcohol/cigarettes/video/knives/adhesives).

• Attempt will be made to purchase product. If challenged, purchaser will not normally produce ID but will retreat from purchase, or try to persuade the retailer to part with the goods without thoroughly ID checking
• Attention will be given by supervisor to gather whether refusal is recorded

• Transaction or attempted purchase may be videoed for record
• Notation made of Point of Sale material and whether it is in accordance with the retailers policy
• Purchase or non-purchase recorded with as much information as has been noted including whether staff display POS material, how transaction was made and conducted

• All data is collated and statistics produced to show percentages of successful/refused transactions
• Repeat visit made post-training or for re-assessment 1-2 weeks later
• Shoppers will dress for the part, in accordance with age, possibly, to reinforce a point, wearing local school uniform or otherwise appropriate apparel . Unlike some organisations, staff are kept secure at all times