The law
Tobacco products, including cigarettes and niche tobacco, are governed by:
- Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991
- Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) (Safety) Regulations 2002
- Children and Young Persons Act 1933
There should be a warning notice displayed at the point of sale which says: "It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18".
This warning notice needs to be clearly visible at all times at the point of sale; failing to do so could result in a £1,000 fine. It should be A3 in size with the lettering being 36 mm high. We can give you a notice if you need one.
How to comply
- No tobacco products should be sold to children under the age of 18.
- On all packaged tobacco there should be a clear health warning so people can see that these products contain tobacco and can be harmful.
- You should ensure that these warnings are printed on the packets of niche tobacco in English.
Penalties and fines
Failure to comply with the law could result in legal action being taken against you with fines up to £5,000, or up to 6 months imprisonment.