Age Restricted sales
It is a criminal offence to sell age restricted products to any underage person. Trading Standards frequently enforce and carry out inspections in partnership with Staffordshire Police and conduct regular test purchases to enforce this.
Age restricted products
Restricted to 16+ years old
- Caffeinated drinks (voluntary age restriction, recommended minimum 16 years)
- Party poppers
- Spray paints
Restricted to 18+ years old
- Alcohol
- BB guns
- Butane
- Corrosive substances (New law currently in consultation, best practice is to apply restriction)
- Fireworks
- Knives and blades
- Lotteries and scratch cards
- Nicotine inhaling products
- Tobacco
- Volatile Substances (If reasonable cause to believe product will be used for causing intoxication)
Other restrictions
- Video games may be restricted to 12+, 16+ or 18+ years old depending on the age classification of the product.
- DVDs/videos may be restricted to 12+, 15+ or 18+ years old depending on the age classification of the product.
Guidance for businesses
We offer all businesses free advice on legislation. New businesses will receive extra help. Please visit our Business Support page.
The Business Companion has also launched an in-depth guide on underage sales providing details of the different types of restricted products and the legislation surrounding them. Please visit: Business Companion
Knife Retailers Toolkit
The Metropolitan Police Service has produced a good working practice guide for knife retailers to help eradicate illegal knife sales and reduce the number of dangerous weapons on UK streets. Please visit: Knife retailers toolkit
Underage sales operations
Staffordshire Trading Standards routinely carry out underage sales operations in premises that sell age restricted products. To report underage sales or for further advice and information on age restricted sales please contact Staffordshire Trading Standards.
Want to volunteer? If you are aged between 14 ½ and 16 ½ years old and would like to become an Underage Sales Volunteer more information and details of how to apply can be located on our underage sale volunteer webpage.
Other guidance for businesses