The countdown is on as the generational tobacco ban approaches

Now is the time for retailers to make final preparations before the introduction of the generational tobacco ban.

What is the generational tobacco ban?

From 1st January 2027, anyone born on or after 1st January 2009 will never be able to legally purchase tobacco products. 

Importantly, this change marks the first time an age restricted policy has worked on the basis of checking against a single date, rather than checking whether someone is above a prescribed age on the day of purchase. 

The change forms part of the wider Tobacco and Vapes Act, which you can read more about here. 

What do I need to do as a retailer?

From 1st January, colleagues will need to age check against a single date rather than checking if a customer is over 18. 

It's important to make sure that colleagues feel ready to have this conversation with customers and that customers are aware there has been a change in legislation. 

To support retailers, ACS has launched a campaign called 'Decline '09'. This is to act as a reminder that if someone is born in 2009 or later, they must decline the sale of tobacco.

Resources include a guide, age of sale notice, colleague and customer facing posters and shelf barkers. 

Decline '09 resources can be found here.