Under Age Sales
Sales of tobacco products to children are regulated by the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Children’s and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
Under the Children’s and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 the minimum age of sale for tobacco products was increased from 16 years to 18 years. If you are caught selling tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years old, you will be issued with a fixed penalty notice for £250.
Shops selling tobacco must display a warning notice which reads “It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18”. Anyone selling tobacco and not displaying the notice can be fined up to £1,000.
You can request a copy of the notice by contacting the Environmental Health Department at 02871 253253
Cigarettes and tobacco products should only be sold to people who have identification proving they are over 18, such as a Passport, Driving Licence or proof of age card that carries the PASS hologram logo.
Advice for Business Owners
As a Business owner, you must take reasonable precautions and show due care when selling tobacco products to the public. You can do this by:
- Making sure you and your staff are aware of the law regarding the sale of age-restricted goods
- Supporting the law and adopting a policy of ‘No ID, No Sale’
- Displaying statutory warning notices, where needed
- Regularly training and supporting your staff
- Keeping a record of any refusals