This includes cigarettes, cigars; loose rolling tobacco and rolling paper and the law applies to both over-the-counter and vending machine sales Selling...

Licensees have been reminded that from today it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. This includes cigarettes, cigars, loose rolling tobacco and rolling paper and the law applies to both over-the-counter and vending machine sales.

Selling tobacco to anyone under-age can result in a fine of up to ?2,500 and failing to display a sign stating the age restrictions on tobacco can result in a fine of up to ?1,000.

Acceptable forms of ID are passport, photo driving license or a proof of age card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram. The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) are also suggesting that retailers adopt use pub-style ID measures.

Brandon Cook, joint lead on age restricted sales, said: “Retailers are advised to adopt the Challenge 21 initiative where any person who appears to be under the age of 21 is asked to produce appropriate ID.”

TSI are whole-heartedly supporting the new law. Chaiman Bryan Lewin, said: “We believe that raising the age limit to 18 is a positive move in making it more difficult for young people to regularly get their hands on cigarettes. We’re looking forward to the implementation and the anticipated improvements in young people’s long-term health that it will bring.

If licensees have not received information packs or would like help in understanding what the new law will mean for them, they should contact their local authority trading standards service.

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