Underage Sales

Sale of Fireworks

The aim of this advisory leaflet is to remind retailers and their employees of the responsibilities they have to ensure that fireworks are:-

  • Only sold to the appropriate aged person;

  • Only sold between the specific dates permitted by a firework registration.

Trading Standards Officers may be carry out exercises using under-age volunteers to test purchase fireworks, at the following times :-

15 Oct 2008 - 10 Nov 2008

26 Dec 2008 - 31 Dec 2008

The day of Diwali 2008 and 3 days prior (25th - 28th Oct 2008)

The day of Chinese New Year and 3 days prior (7th - 10th Feb 2009)

Please be aware that the dates of both Diwali and Chinese New Year change every year.

Remember that adult fireworks can only be sold to a person over 18 years of age (except for a cap, cracker snap, novelty match, party popper, serpent, or throwdown, for which the age is 16 years ).  Please see below for advice on age restricted sales. Further information is available on our website at  www.hants.gov.uk/underagesales.

We recommend that you:

  • Refer to our Retailers Pack  for Age Restricted Goods (red folder) available from Hampshire Trading Standards.

  • ·Ensure new and existing staff are properly trained and regularly updated. Issue clear written guidance to your staff and ensure they understand it.

·Place notices in staff areas and at the points of sale to publicise age restrictions and that sales must be refused if the correct photo I.D. cannot be provided.

·Ensure all staff know how to deal with attempts to purchase goods illegally, and be vigilant for members of the public who have been approached outside the shop to purchase goods on behalf of children.

·If in doubt refuse the sale. You are under no obligation to serve the person if you suspect that goods may be passed to children or the person making the purchase cannot provide suitable photo I.D.

·Request photo I.D from anyone who appears to be under the age of 21

  • Record all refusals in your refusals log (keep by the till)

·Place a reminder to staff at the point of sale

Please remember you are able to display for sale and sell fireworks during the above dates only if you have a firework registration issued by this Service.  If you have a special licence, available from this Service at a cost of £500, you are able to sell all year round.  

Test purchasing exercises do take place, if we receive information that young people have purchased fireworks in your area outside of the permitted registration period.

Separate offences exist both for selling to an underage person and selling outside of the registration period (if applicable) which can lead to legal proceedings being instituted. Both the seller and the owner of the business under certain circumstances may commit offences.

Please contact Hampshire Trading Standards for any further advice on this issue on 01962 833620.

This advice is designed to provide basic guidance to traders. It is not a complete or authoritative statement of the law. For further assistance on this or any other Trading Standards legislation, please contact your nearest office.

We will be pleased to offer this information in larger print or translated into any language on request.

Hampshire County Council
Trading Standards Service
Montgomery House
Monarch Way
Winchester
Hampshire SO22 5PW

Tel: 01962 833620
Fax: 01962 833699
Email: rsadvice@hants.gov.uk

B/saf/189/001 Aug 2008

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