From 1 October 2007 the law for selling tobacco changed.
On that date it became illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.
Products affected include cigarettes, cigars, loose rolling tobacco and rolling papers.
Smoking tobacco is highly addictive and dangerous to health, so if you choose to sell tobacco you have to comply with a number of legal duties, one of which is not to sell products to those under the minimum age.
The Health Act, passed by Parliament in 2006, included a power to change the age of sale of tobacco from 16 to 18. This came into effect on Monday 1 October 2007, from when it was illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. This includes cigarettes, cigars, loose rolling tobacco and rolling papers. This applies both to 'over the counter' and vending machine sales.
As before you need to display a sign clearly stating the age restriction on selling tobacco products. Details of the signs which must be displayed are available here.
The requirements are the same as before in all respects, other than that the minimum age changed from 16 to 18. This means that you need to display a notice saying: “It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18”. If you sell only by vending machine, then you need to ensure that the following words appear on the vending machine: "This machine is only for the use of people aged 18 or over".
Selling tobacco products to someone under the legal age (18 years old from 1st October 2007) could result in a fine of up to £2,500. Failing to display the statutory notice could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
