Trading Standards

Age Restricted Sales

What is it?

Trading Standards are responsible for ensuring that retailers do not sell products to children who are under the legal age to buy such products. The list of products that are restricted includes

Product	Age Restriction
Tobacco Product	18 and over
Offensive weapons, Knives, Crossbows, Airguns and pellets	18 and over
Caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches party poppers, serpents and throwdowns	16 and over
Fireworks and sparklers	18 and over
Videos and video computer games	12, 15 and 18 and over classifications
Solvents	18 and over
Butane cigarette lighter refills	18 and over
Aerosol Spray Paints	16 and over
Alcohol	18 and over

Selling products to children under the legal age is a criminal offence.
Most retailers operate a policy of asking for proof of age if a person looks under 21. This is supported by Milton Keynes Trading Standards who recommend retailers ask for either a passport, drivers licence or “PASS” approved ID card.

How to report underage sales

If you think that a business has been selling any of these items to someone who is under-age, you can report them to Trading Standards

1.	Name and address of the business you are reporting?*
2.	When the under-age sale was made?*
3.	What was bought?*
4.	How old you think the buyer was?
5.	Your Name, Address and telephone number: (Optional)

* Question is mandatory

The Data Protection Act
In order to provide services to you, we need to record your details which you have the right to see and check. Information may be shared with other organisations we work with to provide services to you. We will process and safeguard your details in accordance to the Data Protection Act. Information may also be used in connection with the prevention and detection of crime and fraud.

Business Support

We are happy to provide any assistance to business that will reduce the likelihood of sales being made to underage children. We can provide training to staff and point of sales materials.

Underage Sales Pack

Cigarette Vending Machines
No ID no Sale retailer pack
Age restricted products leaflet
Cigarette lighter refills and solvents
Restrictions on the sale of knives and other bladed items
Tobacco and children
Videos and DVDs

Help us to enforce the law

Volunteers aged 14 to 17 are needed to help our officers enforce legislation relating to the under age sales of age-restricted products such as cigarettes, alcohol and fireworks. Test purchase exercises are one of the ways we can check to ensure traders are not illegally selling goods to under age young people. If you want to help, contact us .