Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. has announced that it is withdrawing a violent videogame shareholder resolution filed with mega-retailer Best Buy Co. Inc., after Best Buy agreed to implement what may be the toughest policy ever introduced by a major American retailer to restrict the sales of mature-rated videogames to appropriately-aged customers.  Key provisions of the policy include a new 'mystery shopper program' that audits cashiers to make sure they are asking for ID from any customer who appears to be under 21 years of age and is attempting to buy mature (M-Rated) videogames; a signed agreement by Best Buy employees stating that they have read and agree to implement Best Buy's policy; and definite disciplinary action against employees who fail to follow the policy and are found selling inappropriate videogames to minors.

Christian Brothers Investment Services manages nearly $4 billion worth of Catholic financial assets.  CBIS is calling on retailers to assume greater responsibility in ensuring that violent videogames are not accessible to children and youth.  Laws mandating penalties for retailers who fail to follow age guidelines in selling videogames are under consideration in a number of state legislatures around the country, and other groups such as the CBIS are attempting to influence retailers through a variety of strategies.

While these groups are primarily concerned with videogames, retailers of other age-rated items such as comic books, graphic novels, anime, manga, and movies should take note of the current campaign targeting videogame retailers and come up with and implement a strategy with their own employees for dealing with age-rated items.