Resources - tobacco
The law states that it is an offence for any person to sell any tobacco products (including cigarette papers) to a person under 18, whether or not it was for their own use. This is a strict liability offence, which means the owner of the business can be held responsible as well as the member of staff who made the sale.
You must display a notice that states: It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18
The notice must be displayed in a prominent position and be easily visible at the point of sale. The notice must be no less than 297 mm x 420 mm (A3) and the characters must be no less than 36 mm in height. Your local trading standards service or your tobacco supplier may be able to provide a notice for you to use. It is an offence if you do not have the required notice on display.
- Trading Standards Law explained (PDF 69 KB)
- Check 25 guidance for staff (PDF 771 KB)
Retailer posters
Posters available for retailers to display.
- Under 25 – be prepared to show proof of age poster (PDF 188 KB)
Retailer tools
- Refusals records (PDF 197 KB)
- Due diligence checklist (PDF 257 KB)
- Premises age verification (PDF 59 KB)
- Under 25 – Be Prepared To Show Proof Of Age Poster A3 (PDF 188 KB)
- Date of birth verification sheet (PDF 267 KB)
- CitizenCard physical security features (PDF 3.27 MB)
- CitizenCard Security Flyer 2024 (PDF 3.35 MB)
Training
- Staff training record A4 (PDF 145 KB)
- Induction worksheet questions (PDF 65 KB)
- Induction worksheet answers (PDF 88 KB)
- Refresher worksheet 1 questions (PDF 61 KB)
- Refresher worksheet 1 answers (PDF 83 KB)
- Refresher worksheet 2 questions (PDF 62 KB)
- Refresher worksheet 2 answers (PDF 95 KB)