Member

It will be an offence to sell these products to anyone underage. I express my thanks that the majority of retailers sell tobacco and vapes responsibly. They follow recommended practice and regularly ask for customers’ ID. We should acknowledge that. Similarly, trading standards will continue to take an intelligence-led, proportionate approach to enforce the law through test purchases. The new £200 fixed penalty notices introduced by the Bill will further strengthen enforcement against rogue retailers. The Bill provides powers to specify in regulations the steps that may be taken to verify a customer’s age that are sufficient as a defence to the age of sale offence. These regulations will therefore provide further clarity for retailers on appropriate steps to avoid selling to customers under the age of sale.