Consumer advice
Some products can only be sold to people who have reached a certain age. This is to protect the health and safety of young people.
There are age limits for the sale of:
| Product | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes including vending machines | 18 |
| Alcohol | 18 |
| Confectionary containing alcohol | 16 |
| Knives, axes and blades | 18 |
| Crossbows | 18 |
| Imitation firearms | 18 |
| Fireworks and sparklers | 18 |
| Caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents and throwdowns | 16 |
| Solvents e.g. solvent based glues, marker pens, correction fluid | 18 |
| Lighter refills containing butane | 18 |
| Aerosol paint | 16 |
| Lottery tickets / scratch cards | 18 |
| Videos, DVDs, computer games | 12, 15 or 18 |
What can you do?
If you wish to purchase age restricted products you may be asked to prove your age, this is usually in the form of a photographic ID.
Reporting underage sales
If you suspect a retailer of selling age restricted products to individuals under the minimum age then you can report it to Citizens Advice Bureau.