Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Environmental Health and Tobacco Control Officers, continue to work in partnership with our retailers to assist them to comply with the laws in relation to the sale of age restricted products.
Retailers who sell age restricted products or services such as tobacco products and accessories, e-cigarettes containing nicotine, butane lighter refill gas and use of sunbeds are required by law to ensure that any customer purchasing or using these items is aged 18yrs or over. To ensure compliance with the relevant legal age restrictions, retailers, supported by Council officers, have put in place training programmes to provide their staff with knowledge of the laws and procedures they must follow when dealing with sale of age restricted products or services.
To assist with compliance many retailers have adopted a ‘Challenge 25’ policy. If you, a family member or friend, “are lucky enough to look under 25” retail staff will ask for photographic identification. The identification required should be an original document and not one stored on your smart phone as this will avoid the embarrassing situation of retail staff having to refuse the sale.
We have been disappointed to hear that refusal of sale due to lack of ID occasionally results in rude or aggressive behaviour towards staff, sometimes even requiring a call to PSNI.
Please respect retail staff and support them to comply with the law. Remember no ID, no sale!
It is a criminal offence to sell age restricted products to persons under 18yrs, this also includes persons over 18yrs who purchase any of these products for persons under 18yrs. Persons committing any of these offences can be prosecuted and receive a fine up to £5000.