The Legal Age to Smoke and Buy Tobacco in the UK
In the UK, it is currently illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to purchase cigarettes or other tobacco products. Here, we’ll break down the laws governing the legal age to purchase tobacco in the UK. Plus, we’ll also explore the implications associated with tobacco use and potential smoke-free alternatives.
What is the Legal Age to Smoke in the UK?
You can only purchase cigarettes if you are 18 years old or over. No one under the age of 18 should use tobacco or nicotine products.
It is the responsibility of traders to verify the age of those purchasing tobacco products. In order to do this, a valid form of identification is required such as an ID, passport, or driver's license. Similarly, when it comes to online sales, it’s still the responsibility of traders to age-verify customers purchasing tobacco products.
Oftentimes, traders are encouraged to adopt the ‘Challenge25’ policy. This is a retail policy helping to enforce the sale of age-restricted products such as tobacco, whereby retailers need to check for proof of age for those who may look 25 years old and under.
Implications of Tobacco Use
When trying to understand the regulations around the sale of tobacco and why the legal age to smoke in the UK is relevant, it’s important to keep the impacts of cigarettes in mind.
When a cigarette is lit, the process of combustion occurs. Cigarette smoke is a result of combustion and contains more than 6,000 harmful chemicals. Cigarettes also contain nicotine, which is addictive.
What is the Legal Age to Smoke in Other Countries?
What age can you smoke in other countries? Well, in some countries the age at which individuals can purchase and use tobacco products is higher than 18.
For example, in the United States, the minimum age to purchase tobacco is 21. This legislation is commonly known as ‘T21’ and covers all tobacco-containing products. This is the same in Sri Lanka and Singapore where the age to purchase tobacco is 21.
Legal Consequences of Violating Tobacco Age Restrictions
Retailers caught selling tobacco products to underage individuals could be subject to spot fines of £100. These spot fines are also known as fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and assist local Trading Standards officers in regulating underage sales. What’s important to note is that those buying on behalf of somebody who is underage are also liable to receive an FPN. Retailers can also be subject to a court-ruled fine of a maximum of £2,500 in addition to these spot fines.
The Rise of Smoke-Free Alternatives
For adult smokers who are looking to transition away from continued smoking to a smoke-free alternative, there are an array of noteworthy benefits to making this decision.
For example, certain tobacco heating products heat tobacco instead of burning it - like our IQOS ILUMA device series. IQOS ILUMA emits 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.* IQOS ILUMA Smartcore Induction Technology heats tobacco instead of burning it to deliver the taste of real tobacco. What’s more, IQOS ILUMA produces no ash, and it generates no cigarette smoke smell.
Important information: This does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free.
* “95% less” represents the average reduction in levels of the 9 chemicals recommended for reduction in cigarette smoke by the World Health Organization, which do not include nicotine. See Important Information on IQOS.com.
Want to learn more about the IQOS ILUMA range? Discover IQOS ILUMA by following the link.
Smoke-free products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids.
This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.
