Senior Environmental Health Officer Gail McEwan said, “We have spent significant time with retailers to ensure that they comply with the legislation pertaining to the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Order 1991 and The Children’s and Young Persons (sale of tobacco etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008. [caption id="attachment_19130" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Retailers are required to comply with legislation in not selling cigaretetes to young people below the age of 18 years."][/caption] “This legislation makes it an offence to sell cigarettes to anyone under 18 years of age. Similarly The Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999, makes it illegal to sell any product containing butane to any person under the age of 18 years of age. “Test purchases are ongoing throughout the district, and all tobacco retailers are reminded that they must ensure that cigarettes and all related products are not sold to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is the responsibility of Tobacco retailers to ensure that all staff are well trained and aware that anyone they suspect to be under the age of 18 years should be asked to produce legitimate proof of age before selling any tobacco product,” she added.]]>