4Sale of tobacco products to persons under 18S
(1)A person who sells a tobacco product or cigarette papers to a person under the age of 18 commits an offence.
(2)It is a defence to a charge in proceedings against a person (“the accused”) under subsection (1) that—
(a)the accused believed the person under the age of 18 (“the customer”) to be aged 18 or over, and
(b)the accused had taken reasonable steps to establish the customer's age.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the accused is to be treated as having taken reasonable steps to establish the customer's age if and only if—
(a)the accused was shown any of the documents mentioned in subsection (4), and
(b)that document would have convinced a reasonable person as to the customer's age.
(4)The documents referred to in subsection (3)(a) are any document bearing to be—
(a)a passport,
[F1(aa)a UK driving licence,]
(b)a European Union photocard driving licence, or
(c)such other document, or a document of such description, as may be prescribed.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 4(4)(aa) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Public Health and Tobacco (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/142), regs. 1, 3(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Commencement Information
I1S. 4 in force at 24.10.2010 for specified purposes and 1.4.2011 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2010/345, art. 2, Sch.