Advice for retailers about age-restricted goods
It is illegal to sell certain products to children and young people. This page sets out how old customers have to be to buy different age-restricted products. It also explains some of the steps you can take to make sure you are not selling to an under-age customer.
Why some goods are age restricted
This is to prevent the harm that products might cause in the hands of those who are not fully aware of their dangers.
For example, over 80% of smokers start when teenagers. Of all recorded deaths from solvent abuse, 53% involve young people aged between 14 and 18.
More young people are carrying and using weapons such as knives, and the misuse of products such as alcohol and spray paints encourages antisocial behaviour.
Age limits of restricted products
This list shows the age limits below which certain products are not to be sold.
| Product | Minimum legal selling age |
|---|---|
| Air weapons | 18 years |
| Alcohol | 18 years |
| Butane gas lighter refills | 18 years |
| Other solvent-based products (glues, petrol lighter fuels, aerosols etc) | 18 years |
| Cigarettes and tobacco products | 18 years |
| Crossbows | 18 years |
| Fireworks | 18 years |
| Party poppers, cracker snaps | 16 years |
| Knives and other bladed items | 18 years |
| Liqueur chocolates | 16 years |
| National Lottery tickets | 16 years |
| Pre-recorded video tapes, DVDs and games | The age classification as marked on the product |
| Petrol | 16 years |
| Pets | 16 years |
| Realistic imitation firearms | Banned |
| Imitation firearms | 18 years |
| Scrap metal | Cannot buy scrap from a person apparently under 16 years |
| Spray paints | 16 years |
The sale of these products to someone below the legal minimum age is a criminal offence and you or your staff may be liable to prosecution.
Some items such as flick knives, some martial arts type weapons and realistic imitation firearms are totally banned from sale.
How we enforce the law
We enforce the law by:
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visiting local shops to advise retailers on legal requirements
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investigating complaints from the public
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publishing information.
We also carry out attempted purchases using supervised child volunteers. Any illegal sales discovered using this technique are taken extremely seriously indeed. e also carry out attempted purchases using supervised child volunteers. Any illegal sales discovered using this technique are taken extremely seriously indeed.
Local retailers are prosecuted if appropriate. However, we would prefer to achieve compliance by working together with businesses.
What you can do to keep within the law
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Do not stock items that are totally prohibited.
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Apply your own higher age limit (e.g. 21 instead of 18, 18 instead of 16) to be extra sure that you do not sell illegally.
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Refuse the sale if you are in any doubt about the age of the purchaser.
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Display warning signs in your store.
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If you sell cigarettes and tobacco products, you are legally required to display a specially worded warning notice.
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Print out these guidelines and make sure that you and your staff read and sign them. Keep them in a safe and available place for reference.
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Keep a 'refusals book'. This is a written record of dates and times when you have refused a sale, a brief description of the purchaser and the item they tried to buy. This can help to show that you have taken reasonable steps to keep within the law.
How we can help you
We can help you keep within the law by giving you:
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specialist leaflets for issues like the sale of tobacco products and sale of weapons
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responses to individual queries
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free warning signs (including the mandatory tobacco warning sign) and a range of 'can you prove your age?' stickers, free of charge.