Tobacco and children
(for all nations)
Enter your postcode in the field at the bottom of this page to see if your local authority trading standards department has the full leaflet version available on its website.
Consumer laws control the quality and safety of goods and services, and in specific cases, goods cannot be supplied to anyone below a certain age - for tobacco products, this age is 18 years.
Cigarettes must only be sold in quantities of at least 10 and in their original packaging. A notice must be displayed stating it is illegal to sell tobacco products to under-18s.
Young people should always be asked for proof of their age.
In the guide
What the law says
Cigarette vending machines
Judging a buyer's age
Cigarette lighter refills
Matches and lighters
What you can do now
