Sale and purchase of tobacco products
4Sale of tobacco products to persons under 18
(1)A person who sells a tobacco product or cigarette papers to a person under the age of 18 commits an offence.
(2)It is a defence to a charge in proceedings against a person (“the accused”) under subsection (1) that—
(a)the accused believed the person under the age of 18 (“the customer”) to be aged 18 or over, and
(b)the accused had taken reasonable steps to establish the customer’s age.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the accused is to be treated as having taken reasonable steps to establish the customer’s age if and only if—
(a)the accused was shown any of the documents mentioned in subsection (4), and
(b)that document would have convinced a reasonable person as to the customer’s age.
(4)The documents referred to in subsection (3)(a) are any document bearing to be—
(a)a passport,
(b)a European Union photocard driving licence, or
(c)such other document, or a document of such description, as may be prescribed.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.
5Purchase of tobacco products by persons under 18
(1)A person under the age of 18 who buys or attempts to buy a tobacco product or cigarette papers commits an offence.
(2)It is not an offence under subsection (1) for a person under the age of 18 to buy or attempt to buy a tobacco product or cigarette papers if the person is authorised to do so by a council officer or a constable for the purpose of determining whether an offence is being committed under section 4.
(3)A council officer or a constable may authorise a person under the age of 18 to buy or attempt to buy a tobacco product or cigarette papers only if satisfied that all reasonable steps have been or will be taken to avoid any risk to the welfare of the person.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.
6Purchase of tobacco products on behalf of persons under 18
(1)A person aged 18 or over who knowingly buys or attempts to buy a tobacco product or cigarette papers on behalf of a person under the age of 18 commits an offence.
(2)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.