Trading standards - under age sales
It is a criminal offence for businesses to sell alcohol, cigarettes, fireworks, solvents, butane lighter refills and offensive weapons such as knives, air guns and cross bows to people under the age of 18.
Similar rules apply to lottery tickets, aerosol spray paints, party poppers and liqueur chocolates where the age limit is 16. Videos and computer games may have 12, 15 or 18 age limits. In each case it is a criminal offence to sell any of these products to a person under the specified age.
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.
In some cases you are legally required to display A3 sized notices about the age limits as a reminder to both staff and customers alike.
It is now industry best practice to operate a Challenge 25 scheme whereby customers who look under 25 are asked for proof of age. Keeping a record of any refusals enables business owners to check that staff apply the Challenge 25 scheme.
Advice to business
Use the associated link 'Age restricted product advice' to find out the detailed requirements of the law and how to prevent illegal sales.
If your business would like further help about age restricted product issues then please book an appointment using the contact details below or visit Access Croydon 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
- Access Croydon
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 3BT
