Age-restricted products

The full range of age-restricted products are considered to present real risks to the health and welfare of children and teenagers.

Legislation prohibits the supply (sale or hire) of the following specific products to persons under specified age limits:

• alcohol
• cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and tobacco
• fireworks
• cigarette lighter refills containing butane
• liqueur chocolates
• lottery tickets and scratch cards
• video recordings and computer games
• spray paints
• botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers 
• corrosive substances
• bladed articles

If you are a trader in any of the above products, you and your staff should be aware of the age restrictions, the associated law and guidance.  

Trading Standards Officers need to know which premises are making, or are suspected of making, illegal sales so that steps can be taken through advice, warnings or prosecution to prevent such sales. It is vital that such knowledge or suspicions are reported to the Trading Standards service, and you can report it through our online form.

Tobacco and Vapes Bill 

On the 5 November 2024 the Government introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at Westminster.

The Bill aims to introduce a progressive smoking ban to gradually end the sale of tobacco products across the UK, so that anyone born on or after 1st January 2009 will never be able to legally be sold cigarettes.  This means there will be no restrictions on people who can already legally smoke.

The Bill strengthens enforcement activity including the extension of the Tobacco Retailers Register to include vapes and other nicotine products.  It also includes provision to allow for the introduction of a retail licensing scheme in the longer term to replace the Registration scheme.  This will be subject to public consultation.

In addition, the new Bill includes further welcome enhancements including the extension of existing tobacco advertising, sponsorship and brand-sharing rules to include cigarette papers, herbal smoking products, vaping products and other nicotine products.  The legislation will also allow regulations to be made to extend smoke-free provisions in public outdoor places (or workplaces) and to make smoke-free places also vape-free and heated tobacco-free.

Minister Nesbitt said:

“The proposed measures in this Bill offer a huge public health opportunity to reduce preventable death and illness.  This is particularly important in communities where the prevalence of tobacco use is the largest contributor to health inequalities. Reducing these health inequalities across Northern Ireland is one of my key areas of focus and I am positive this legislation will make a very significant difference going forward.”  

Contact

Trading Standards service, Directorate of City Operations, Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH. Email: tradingstandards@newcastle.gov.uk