Trading standards - under age sales
It is a criminal offence for businesses to sell cigarettes, fireworks, solvents, alcohol and offensive weapons such as knives, air guns and cross bows to young people under the age of 18.
Similar rules apply to lottery tickets, videos and computer games, where the age limit can be lower. In each case it is a criminal offence to sell any of these products to a person under the specified age.
The police and trading standards officers enforce the laws restricting sales and harsh penalties apply to those who do not comply with them. Business owners and their staff can all be prosecuted for selling these products to anyone who is underage.
Use the associated link to find out the detailed requirements of the law and how to prevent illegal sales.
Tobacco
Businesses selling cigarettes and tobacco must display a large (A3) notice stating "It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18". Cigarette machines must also display a 100mm x 60mm (A7) notice stating "This machine is only for the use of people over 18".
Fireworks
Businesses selling fireworks must display a large (A3) notice stating "It is illegal to sell adult fireworks to anyone under the age of 18" and "It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to posess adult fireworks in a public place".
All premises storing explosives such as fireworks need to be registered or licensed for their storage.
Sales of fireworks can only be sold at certain times of the year, but a licence must be obtained for all year round sales
Alcohol
Underage drinking is not only harmful to those involved, but it is also sometimes leads to antisocial behaviour, noise nuisance and litter. Serious problems also often occur with knives and solvents and the law recognises the need to protect the health and safety of young people and the whole community alike.
Trading standards officers may check for underage sales of any age restricted products with child volunteers. If you are in any doubt and the person cannot provide legitimate proof of their age, the best advice is to refuse to sell the goods to them.
Many public houses, supermarkets and off-licences have taken up the Challenge 21 initiative. This highlights the fact that "if you are lucky enough to look under 21 you will be asked to prove that you are over 18 when you buy alcohol", believing that the Challenge 21 policy is the best way of ensuring they don't sell to under 18s.
See the associated link to download the Challenge 21 posters and read more detailed advice aimed at those working in the alcohol industry.
Proof of Age
Young people can prove their age by taking photographic identification into shops such as a passport or driving licence and proof-of-age cards are available from various organisations.
Proof-of-age cards aim to ensure that age restricted products are only sold to those legally entitled to buy them; it also helps those who may look younger than they are to prove their age.
These schemes are Government approved and the identity cards display the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) Accredited hologram. Use the associated links to find out what these cards look like and how to obtain application forms for display in your shop.
The council has been working in conjunction with the CitizenCard scheme and many schools in the area have issued these cards to their pupils.
Advice and Help
For retailers the following support materials can be downloaded free of charge from the No Id No Sale website (see the associated link - click on the thumbnails to download these files):
- Refusals register
- Statutory tobacco notice
- A4 age limit laws notice
- A5 window sticker
- Valid ID poster
- Tobacco 18 poster
- No ID No Sale scheme - covering letter
If your business would like further help about age restricted product issues then please book an appointment using the contact details below or visit our One Stop facility in Taberner House.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Trading Standards
- Telephone
- 020 8407 1311
- Fax
- 020 8760 5786
- Minicom
- 020 8760 5797
- trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk
- Address
- One Stop
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 3BT
