The law prohibits the sale of certain products to persons under certain ages.
Laws related to underage sales exist to safeguard the health of young people and reduce community disorder. We enforce legislation that restricts the sale of goods that may be harmful to young persons, including:
- Cigarettes and tobacco products (including nicotine vapour products known as ‘vapes’, etc)
- Fireworks
- Video recordings (DVDs, videos, games)
- Intoxicating substances
- Butane gas, fluid cigarette lighter refills
- National Lottery
- Alcohol
- Liqueur chocolates
- Offensive weapons
- Spray paints
Advice to retailers
Guidance for retailers on age restrictions and the relevant legislation is available on the Business Companion website.
Proof of age
You can apply for a proof of age card from the Citizencard website.
As part of the Proof of Age Standards Scheme, if you are a retailer you can request a free retail support pack to promote the No Id - No Sale campaign.
Young volunteers wanted
We are looking for volunteers to assist us in our test purchasing operations.
Report underage sales
If you know of a retailer selling age restricted products to people under the age of 18, you can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service or our online reporting form.