Changes to age of sale rules and related regulations for tobacco and herbal smoking products and cigarette papers from 29 October 2026 and 1 January 2027.
From 1 January 2027, it will be an offence to sell tobacco products, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
It will also be an offence for anyone aged 18 or over to buy, or attempt to buy, tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers on behalf of a person born on or after 1 January 2009.
It is currently a legal requirement for retailers to display a notice that is visible at points of sale to inform customers about the age of sale for tobacco products. This requirement will remain in place. From 1 January 2027, this notice must be updated to include information about the new age of sale.
This guidance explains:
the age of sale restrictions for tobacco products, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers across the UK from 1 January 2027
age of sale notice requirements for tobacco retailers from 1 January 2027
restrictions on the free distribution of these products from 29 October 2026
restrictions on selling these products at substantial discounts from 29 October 2026
This guidance is mainly intended for retailers, who will need to understand the changes in the law. It may also be useful for:
wholesalers
business owners
enforcement authorities
people who use these products
The products in scope of the restrictions are:
tobacco products
herbal smoking products
cigarette papers
cigarettes
hand rolling tobacco
cigars
cigarillos
pipe tobacco
waterpipe tobacco, such as shisha
nasal tobacco, commonly known as snuff
chewing tobacco
heated tobacco
tobacco blunts
herbal blunts
herbal cigarettes
herbal shisha
Snus and other relevant oral tobacco products (as defined in section 7 of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026) have been banned in the UK since 1992. The new age of sale does not apply to these products.
Age of sale
From 1 January 2027, it will be an offence for retailers, including online retailers, to sell tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
Before making a sale, retailers must be satisfied that the customer was born before 1 January 2009.
Selling to someone under the age of sale is a criminal offence and may result in formal action, including the issuing of a fixed penalty notice (FPN) or prosecution.
Customers attempting to buy tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers should expect to show ID if they are asked to prove they are above the age of sale.
The current restrictions on displays of tobacco products and prices will remain in place. Subject to parliamentary approval, there will be some changes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to account for the new age of sale. Retailers can currently only accept a request to see a product or price list from someone aged 18 or over. This will change so that retailers can only accept a request from someone born before 1 January 2009.
Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative. Continue reading at UK DHSC ↗