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.