Support For Retailers As Tobacco Age Striction Changes To 18

The legal age that people can buy cigarettes and other tobacco products went up from 16 to 18 on Monday 1st September 2008.  Tobacco products include cigarettes, cigars, loose rolling tobacco and rolling papers.

It will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18 years old, compared to the previous age limit of 16 years.

Retailers are required to display a sign clearly stating the new age restriction on tobacco products. The sign must say “It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18”.

Vending machines must also display signage stating “This machine is only for the use of people aged 18 or over”. Failure to display the statutory notice can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

To prepare for the age change, Environmental Health staff from Ballymoney Borough Council have distributed packs to retailers throughout the area reminding them of the new legislation and how they can comply with them.

They ask retailers to be vigilant and to operate the policy of ‘No proof of age – No sale’ to avoid illegal sales to anyone under 18.

Environmental Health staff will also carry out test-purchasing activities to check that tobacco products are not sold to under-aged customers. Both the sales person and the retailer failing to observe the new age laws could face a fine of £2500.

Ballymoney Borough Councils Deputy Director of Borough Services, Bryan Edgar said: “The Government has changed the law to try and prevent children and young people from starting smoking in the first place. This will help them to avoid the serious health dangers of smoking. That way we all benefit”.  Mr Edgar continued to say that “the effects of tobacco smoking on teenagers are devastating. Someone who starts smoking at 15 years is three times more likely to die of cancer than someone who starts smoking in their mid-twenties. Half of all teenagers who smoke will die from diseases caused by tobacco if they continue to smoke – and a quarter of them will die before they are 70”. 

“The new smoke free laws have got off to a very encouraging start and we are determined that, through public education and robust enforcement, we will improve the health and life chances for our young people.” 

For further information or advice please contact smokefree@ballymoney.gov.uk or telephone Ballymoney Borough Council Borough Services Directorate on 028 2766 0257.