Underage sales: restricted products

It is a criminal offence to sell age restricted products and services to anyone under the legal purchasing age. The punishment is an unlimited fine (level 5), except for offences involving tobacco, alcohol and vape products, which carry a level 4 fine (£2,500).

Age restricted products

Product	Age restriction
Adult fireworks and sparklers (category F2 and category F3 fireworks)	18 and over
Aerosol paint	16 and over
Alcohol	18 and over
Animals	16 and over
Botulinum toxin (Botox) and cosmetic fillers (England only)	18 and over
Christmas crackers	12 and over
Corrosive substances	18 and over
Crossbows	18 and over
Knives / axes / blades	18 and over
Lighter refills containing butane	18 and over
Lottery draw based and instant win (such as scratch cards and online instant win) games	18 and over
Party poppers and similar low hazard, low noise fireworks (category F1) (except Christmas crackers)	16 and over
Petrol	16 and over
Sunbeds	18 and over
Tobacco	18 and over
Vapes (legally known as nicotine inhaling products in England and Wales). Single-use vapes are now banned regardless of the persons age	18 and over
Video recordings: classification 12	12 and over
Video recordings: classification 15	15 and over
Video recordings: classification 18	18 and over
Video recordings: classification R18	18 years and over in a licensed sex shop
Video games: PEGI rating 12	12 and over
Video games: PEGI rating 16	16 and over
Video games: PEGI rating 18	18 and over

ID cards

If you suspect a person to be below the legal purchasing age, you should always request a photo ID such as a passport or driver's licence. Businesses are responsible for ensuring that:

• the photo ID is genuine
• the age displayed makes the person old enough to buy the product and
• the photo matches the person presenting the ID.

If a business refuses to sell an age restricted product to a person, it is recommended the business makes a record of:

• the date when the product was refused
• the product
• the reason for refusing a sale
• the name of the member of staff who refused to sell the product

Premises suspected of selling products unlawfully

If you are concerned about a business selling age restricted products to underage person, you can confidentially report a concern using the link below.

If you want to speak to a member of the team, you can email us at trading.standards@barnet.gov.uk or write to us at:

Trading Standards Team
2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale
London 
NW9 4EW