ASIA PACIFIC. The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) is urging regional industry stakeholders to register staff for its Responsible Retail Training Programme (RRTP).
Launched in 2014, the RRTP is an online training module which teaches staff to sell alcohol products in an ethical manner and in line with current regulations. It is based on the global self-regulatory code of conduct introduced by APTRA, the Duty Free World Council and fellow trade associations.
Over 1,000 frontline and managerial staff from 22 companies have trained using the online programme to date. The association is calling for retailers and suppliers who have yet to enrol their staff to do so.
The code aims to demonstrate that the duty free industry is compliant with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. A Chinese version is set to be launched in coming months.
“I cannot stress too strongly the importance of the RRTP as an advocacy tool,” commented APTRA President Andrew Ford.
“We must demonstrate to legislators that the duty free and travel retail channel is different from domestic retail, not only on account of the specific location where the business is conducted, but also because of our responsible approach to selling and promoting alcohol to international passengers who are shopping in our airports, airlines, ferries, cruise ships and border stores.
“I urge liquor suppliers and retailers to ensure that all frontline staff, hired directly or on behalf of their company, are given the opportunity to take the responsible retail training as soon as possible.”
Retailers that have signed up to RRTP to date include: Delhi Duty Free Services; DFS Changi Airport; Dufry; Duty Free Philippines; Heinemann Asia Pacific; Heinemann Australia; Hyderabad Duty Free; Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (Eraman) and Sky Connection.
Suppliers include: Bacardi-Martini Asia Pacific; Brown-Forman; Edrington Group; Ian Macleod Distillers; Inver House Distillers; Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail; Treasury Wine Estates and William Grant & Sons. They are joined by agents Bommidala Enterprises, Colombo Management and Goodman Classic.
