From 1 September 2008, it will be against the law in Northern Ireland to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 (previously 16).

Most smokers begin smoking as teenagers. The change in the law will assist efforts to prevent young people from starting to smoke. The additional damage to health caused by smoking in teenage years is reflected in the statistics below:

• Lifelong smokers have a one in two chance of their addiction killing them.
• The younger someone is when they start smoking, the more likely they are to die from it.
• The earlier that children become regular smokers, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer or heart disease as adults.
• Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times more likely to die from cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid 20s.

If you sell tobacco products and have not yet received a pack with information about the legislation change, or would like further information, please contact the environmental health department at your local Council.

A PDF copy of the guidance leaflet for retailers can be downloaded here.

As a retailer it's your responsibility to understand and comply with the legislation change.