Age Restricted Products
Walsall traders selling age restricted products such as alcohol, tobacco, fireworks and knives are visited regularly by Trading Standards Officers and advised about the law relating to the sale of these goods. The table below shows various age-restricted products, the minimum age restriction and the maximum penalty for each offence.
Should a trader breach this legislation legal proceedings may be taken against the actual sales assistant and proprietor of the business depending on the circumstances of the sale.
In addition, if alcohol is sold to a person under 18 legal proceedings may be taken against the designated premises supervisor, the premises licence holder or the personal licence holder. If a personal licence holder is convicted the courts may order their licence to be forfeited or suspended. A review of the premises licence may also be held whichs could result in additional conditions being put on the licence, or even its revocation.
For more information and advice on the law regarding age restricted products please see our information leaflet age restricted sales (PDF 201KB).
Age restricted products | Minimum age | Maximum Penalty |
| Alcohol | 18 years | £5,000 and potential for review of licence |
| Cigarettes and tobacco | 18 years | £2,500 |
| Fireworks (including sparklers) | 18 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Offensive weapons such as knives | 18 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Butane gas cigarette lighter refills | 18 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Solvents | 18 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Tattoos | 18 years | £1,000 |
| Airguns and ammunition for airguns | 18 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Other firearms and ammunition for those firearms | 17 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Crossbows | 17 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Liquor chocolates | 16 years | £500 |
| Party poppers, cracker snaps, novelty matches, serpents, caps and throwdowns | 16 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Videos, DVDs, computer games, cinema films, etc | 12, 15, 18 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Lottery tickets and scratch cards | 16 years | £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment |
| Aerosol paint | 16 years | £2,500 |
Test purchasing of age-restricted goods
Walsall Council’s Trading Standards service carries out frequent test-purchasing exercises using child volunteers. Volunteers are asked to attempt to purchase a variety of age restricted goods including alcohol, tobacco, fireworks and knives. Any contravention of the law may result in legal proceedings.
Proof of age cards
Traders are advised to request some form of proof of age if the age of the purchaser is in doubt. We recommend that only proof of age with a date of birth and a photograph be accepted. For example, a passport, photo driving licence or proof of age card such as Validate cards and Citizencard. These cards carry a 'PASS' hologram to show they are part of an approved scheme and have been correctly issued. The principle "no card, no sale" should be adhered to at all times. We also advise traders to keep a record when a sale has been refused. We have produced an example of a refusals register (PDF 209KB) for you to use.
Walsall Trading Standards can supply copies of our information booklet and refusals register as well as material for you to display in your shop informing people where they can obtain a proof of age card. Please contact us if you would like copies of these or further information on age restricted products and proof of age schemes.
If you would like to apply for a proof of age card please go to our Validate UK proof of age scheme page.
If you would like to complain about a Walsall trader who you suspect is selling age-restricted goods to minors please contact us.
Contact us
Trading Standards
Challenge Building
Hatherton Road
Walsall
WS1 1YG
Telephone: 08453303313
Fax: 01922 630697
Email trading_standards@walsall.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 10 January 2012