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Smokefree

NHS

THE LAW FOR SELLING TOBACCO IS CHANGING

As of 1st October 2007 the law for selling tobacco changed.
It became illegal for you to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 (an increase from 16) in England and Wales. The change in law also came into effect in Scotland from the same date.

Products affected include cigarettes, cigars, tobacco for roll your own and pipes as well as rolling papers

Smoking tobacco is highly addictive and dangerous to health so if you choose to sell tobacco you have to comply with a number of legal duties, one of which is not to sell products to those under the minimum age.

The importance of this is clear when you realise that:

  • One in two lifelong smokers will be killed by their addiction.
  • The younger a smoker starts the more likely they are to be killed by their addiction.
  • Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times as likely to die from cancer due to smoking than someone who starts smoking in their mid-20s.

We understand this change in the law will affect your business and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to abide by the law. This website provides you with all you need to know to make the transition smoothly.