Tobacco control

Tobacco Register NI

If you run a tobacco business in Northern Ireland, you must register the business with Belfast City Council. The register is a list of businesses that are accessible by the public and sell tobacco.

If you own more than one business, each business must be registered at separate business addresses.

Failure to register is a criminal offence. You could get a fixed penalty for £500. If prosecuted and convicted, a court can fine you up to £5,000. This offence can be held on record for five years. 

It is free to register. You can register online or use a printed form:

• to register online, go to www.tobaccoregisterni.gov.uk (link opens in new window) 
• to request a printed form, email [email protected] or call 028 9027 0428

You can also download and print the form at www.tobaccoregisterni.gov.uk (link opens in new window) and return it to:

Tobacco Register NI
City and Neighbourhoods Services Department
Belfast City Council
The Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP 

For more information or to speak to a member of our Tobacco Control Team, call  028 9027 0428. 

Selling tobacco and nicotine inhaling products

It is illegal to sell tobacco products (including cigarette papers) and any nicotine-inhaling products (including e-cigarettes) to a child under 18.

If you do sell these products to a child under 18, you can receive a fixed penalty of £250, or you may face prosecution and be fined up to £5,000.

All age-restricted products should only be sold to people who have photographic identification proving they are over 18.

Test purchasing

We carry out test purchases for tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products to check that retailers comply with the law.

We can bring a retailer to court for selling sale age-restricted tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products.

How to comply with the law

To help your business comply with the law, you should:

• introduce a written policy, such as ‘No ID, No Sale’ or ‘Challenge 21 or 25’, for the sale of tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products. Make sure your staff understand this policy and sign it. 
• carry out formal training with your staff on a regular basis that tests their knowledge and understanding of the law and their responsibilities. Keep written records of this training and what it includes, and ask your staff to sign it.
• display a poster at the point of sale stating that it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.
• consider introducing till prompts.
• keep records of times when you or your staff have challenged a person regarding their age, including any refusals to sell an age-restricted product. Place this ‘Challenge Register’ near the till to allow staff to access it easily, as well as acting as a reminder to them.
• carry out regular supervision of your staff to make sure they implement your policies and procedures.

Smoke-Free NI

Under The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, it is against the law to smoke in ‘enclosed’ and ‘substantially enclosed’ workplaces and public places such as bars and offices; the regulations also extends to work vehicles and public transport.

The legislation was introduced to protect workers and the public from exposure to second-hand smoke and is enforced by our Tobacco Control Officers.

You can receive a fixed penalty of £50 or face prosecution in court where you could be fined up to £1,000 if you smoke in smoke-free premises or smoke-free vehicles.

The person responsible for smoke-free premises (including vehicles) must display no-smoking signs. Failure to display signs could result in a £200 fixed penalty notice or lead to a prosecution in court. You could be fined up to £1,000 in court.

The law also requires the person responsible for smoke-free premises (including vehicles) to prevent or stop a person smoking there. Failure to comply may lead to a court prosecution and a fine of £2,500.