List of age restricted products and services in the UK
The sale of restricted products to minors has been recognised by the Government as a matter affecting our entire society. These laws exist to safeguard the population, and when they are infringed, it becomes a matter of the criminal justice system. Retailers are required to display warnings and notices when selling particular age-restricted products, and are also required to ask young people for ID / proof of age. Penalties for selling age-restricted products to minors vary depending upon the product and circumstances of the sale so make sure you know which products and services are restricted in the UK. A seller could receive a fixed penalty of £80 but for repeated sales could be a higher fine up to £5,000. They could also be banned from working in a tobacco shop for up to one year. The shop owner could receive a fine of up to £5,000 for the first offence but as high as £20,000 for repeated breaches, a criminal record and restrictions placed on any licences that they hold or intend to apply for. The licence holder could lose their licence to sell alcohol or fireworks, have the lottery terminal removed or be banned from selling tobacco products for up to one year.
If you have a petrol station on site, there are additional restrictions on the sale of anything that is flammable (including the petrol/diesel), explosive or oxidising. This can include many household goods, like cleaning products. In petrol stations these cannot be sold to customers under 16 years.
18 years old and over restrictions
Restricted products in stores:
All tobacco products
Alcohol
National Lottery and the Health Lottery
Scratch cards
Cigarette lighter refills, butane
e-Cigaretts or e-Liquids
Fireworks and sparklers
PEGI 18-rated games
18/R18 rated videos (DVDs/Blu-Ray/streaming videos)
Knives, axes, razor blades (except safety razors)
Newspapers/magazines with any R18/R18 videos/games attached
Solvents, including glues and intoxicating substances
Crossbows
Imitation firearms and air weapons
Restricted venues and services:
Bars and pubs
Nightclubs
Voting in the UK elections
Cinema movies rated 18
Shisha lounges
Adult entertainment stores
Tatoo parlours
Betting shops
Getting a credit card
Sunbeds
Getting married
16 years old and over restrictions
Restricted products in stores:
Petrol, paraffin and liquefied petroleum gas
Novelty matches
Caps
Serpents
Party poppers, throw downs, cracker snaps
Aerosol spray paints
Jumbo markers
PEGI 16 rated games
Pets and animals
Energy drinks
Restricted venues and services:
Cinema for movies U-rated to 15-rated
Most piercing salons
Full-time employment
Domestic flights
15 years old and over restrictions
Restricted products in stores:
Newspapers/magazines with any 15 rated videos/games attached
15 rated videos (DVD/Blu-Ray discs/streaming videos)
Restricted venues and services:
Cinema for movies U-rated to 15-rated
Join British Army (15 years, 7 months)
12 years old and over restrictions
Restricted products in stores:
Newspapers/magazines with any 12/12A rated videos/games attached
12/12A rated videos (DVD/Blu-Ray discs/streaming videos)
Christmas crackers
PEGI 12 rated games
Restricted venues and services:
Cinema for movies U-rated to 12/12A-rated
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