We enforce legislation that restricts the sale of goods that may be harmful to young persons, including;
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cigarettes and tobacco products
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fireworks
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video recordings (DVDs, videos, games)
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intoxicating substances
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butane gas, fluid cigarette lighter refills
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National Lottery
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alcohol
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liqueur chocolates
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offensive weapons
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spray paints
It is an offence to sell cigarettes and tobacco products to anybody under 18 years.
It’s is also an offence to knowingly sell them to a person 18 or over who is intending to supply them to a person under 18.
Cigarettes must be sold in their original packaging and must not be split and sold as a separate item.
Fireworks must be sold in their original packaging, which includes warnings, and should not be split into single items.
Fireworks (including hand held sparklers) cannot be sold to anyone under 18.
Other explosive devices such as caps, throwdowns, party poppers, table bombs, novelty matches, and serpents cannot be sold to anyone under 16.
It is an offence to sell or hire video recordings to a person who has not attained the age specified in the rating certificate which may be 12, 15 or 18.
It is an offence to supply these to a person under 18 if you know or believe that they are likely to inhale the substance to achieve intoxication.
Intoxicating substances include solvents, lighter fuel, lighter fluid, solvent based glues and adhesives, aerosols, nail varnish remover, anti-freeze and correction fluid.
It is an offence to supply any cigarette lighter refill canister containing butane or substance with butane as a constituent part to anyone under 18.
It is an offence to sell a lottery ticket or instant win scratch card to a person under 16.
Alcohol
It is an offence to sell alcohol to a person under 18.
It is an offence to supply liqueur chocolates to anyone under 16.
It is an offence to sell knives including kitchen knives, utility knives, axes and razor blades to anyone under 18.
It is an offence to sell an aerosol paint container to a person under the age of 16.
Further information about age restricted products is available from the Trading Standards Central website.
Proof of age
You can apply for a proof of age card from the Citizencard website.
As part of the Proof of Age Standard Scheme, if you are a retailer you can request a free retail support pack to promote the No Id - No Sale campaign.
Reporting under age sales
To complain about or report under age sale of any of the goods listed above, contact us.
Contact us
To find out more about under age sales, contact us using either our online form or by:
e-mail: city.direct@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phone: 01902 551155
Minicom: 01902 555554
Fax: 01902 551195
Write:
Trading Standards
Regeneration and Environment
Wolverhampton City Council
Civic Centre, St. Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1DA