Under age sales

We provide information, advice and guidance for traders and consumers.

We regularly carry out operations with the police to ensure young people are not being sold age restricted products.

Precautions

Traders must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that neither you nor your staff sell these age-restricted goods to anyone under the specified age. If in doubt, and the person cannot provide a legitimate proof of their age, our advice is to refuse to sell the goods to them.

If it is suspected that someone over the legally required age is purchasing the goods on behalf of someone who is underage, you should consider whether it is appropriate to sell the goods to them. Remember that you do not have to sell to a customer if you do not wish to do so.

The CitizenCard proof-of-age card scheme  'No card - no sale'.

If you need to prove your identity or age, the CitizenCard will give you all the proof you need.

Although individual cards can be obtained by completing the application form the majority of cards are issued through the schools when you are 16.

CitizenCards are free to under 18s if applying  through schools or postal application, £5 for under 18s if applying online or £9 for an adult. There is an additional cost for urgent applications.

All you need to do to get your card is apply online, or if download, complete the application form and post it to CitizenCard

Confidential hotline

If you know of traders illegally selling age-restricted goods such as alcohol, cigarettes and fireworks to under age young people in Buckinghamshire, please ring Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06. If you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Please let us know the name and address of the traders you believe are selling age restricted products to under age people and if you witnessed a sale. Information received will enable us to concentrate our limited resources to tackle the problem traders.