- Cigarettes and Tobacco Products
It is an offence to sell these to anybody under 18 years. It’s is
also an offence to knowingly sell them to a person 18 or over who
is intending to supply them to a person under 18. Cigarettes must
be sold in their original packaging and must not be split and sold
as a separate item.
- Fireworks
Fireworks must be sold in their original packaging, which includes
warnings, and should not be split into single items.
Fireworks(including hand held sparklers) cannot be sold to anyone
under 18. Other explosive devices such as caps, throwdowns, party
poppers, table bombs, novelty matches, and serpents cannot be sold
to anyone under 16.
- Video Recordings (DVDs, Videos, Games)
It is an offence to sell or hire these to a person who has not
attained the age specified in the rating certificate which may be
12, 15 or 18.
- Intoxicating Substances
Solvents
include: lighter fuel/fluid, solvent based glues and adhesives,
aerosols, nail varnish remover, anti-freeze and typewriter
correction fluid. It is an offence to supply these to a person
under 18 if you know or believe that they are likely to inhale the
substance to achieve intoxication.
- Butane Gas/Fluid Cigarette Lighter
Refills
It is an offence to supply any cigarette
lighter refill canister containing butane or substance with butane
as a constituent part to anyone under 18
- National Lottery
It is an offence to sell a lottery ticket or instant win
scratchcard to a person under 16.
- Alcohol
It is an offence to sell alcohol to a person under 18.
- Liqueur Chocolates
It is an offence to supply liqueur chocolates to anyone under
16.
- Offensive Weapons
It is an offence to sell knives including kitchen knives, utility
knives, axes and razor blades to anyone under 18.
What should retailers do?
If an age-restricted product is sold to an underage person, even if
they claim they are for an adult, the retailer and the salesperson
can be guilty of a criminal offence. Anyone who sells
age-restricted products should be fully aware of the age limits,
adequately trained and aware of company procedures and policies to
ensure that no sale ever takes place to an underage person. If you
are in doubt, and the person cannot provide legitimate proof of
their age, our advice is to refuse to sell the goods to them.
Acceptable types of proof of age must contain a photograph of the
holder and their date of birth, eg a Connexions card or Driving
Licence. Other than in the case of alcohol, the buyer does not
commit an offence in purchasing the age restricted product.
Where cigarettes are sold retailers must clearly display a
notice (measuring not less than 30x42cm) stating:
"IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO ANYONE UNDER
THE AGE OF 18"