12Supplying tobacco products or vaping goods to person under 18 years

12 Supplying tobacco products or vaping goods to person under 18 years

S. 12(1) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 43/2000 s. 12(1)(a), 49/2009 s. 27(1), 55/2016 s. 9(10)(p), 51/2024 s. 56(2)(a).

(1) A person must not sell a tobacco product or vaping goods to a person under the age of 18 years.

S. 12(2) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 45/2005 s. 15(1), 49/2009 s. 27(2), 55/2016 s. 9(10)(p), 51/2024 ss 18(a), 56(2)(a).

(2) A person must not purchase, or hold themselves out as being willing to purchase, a tobacco product or vaping goods for the use of a person under the age of 18 years.

1. In the case of a natural person, 20 penalty units;

In the case of a body corporate, 100 penalty units.

S. 12(3) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 43/2000 s. 12(1)(b), substituted by No. 49/2009 s. 27(3).

(3) The occupier of premises on which a vending machine is situated must not permit a person under the age of 18 years to obtain a tobacco product from that vending machine.

S. 12(3A) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2), substituted by No. 45/2005 s. 15(2).

(3A) If a person (the primary offender) commits an offence against subsection (1), each manager of the primary offender (if any) also commits an offence against that subsection.

S. 12(3B) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2), substituted by No. 45/2005 s. 15(2).

(3B) Proceedings for an offence committed by a manager because of subsection (3A) may be brought whether or not proceedings have been brought against the primary offender and whether or not the primary offender has been convicted.

S. 12(3C) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2).

(3C) If an offence is committed against subsection (1) on premises at which a business is carried on, it must be presumed, unless the contrary is established, that the offence was committed in the course of the carrying on of that business.

S. 12(3D) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2), repealed by No. 45/2005 s. 15(3).

(4) It is a defence to a prosecution under this section if a person proves that he or she—

S. 12(4)(a) amended by No. 83/1993 s. 4, repealed by No. 45/2005 s. 15(4)(a).

S. 12(4)(b) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 43/2000 s. 12(3), repealed by No. 45/2005 s. 15(4)(a).

S. 12(4)(c) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(3).

(c) at the time of the alleged offence, had seen an evidence of age document of the person whose age is material to the offence, indicating that the person is of or over the age of 18 years; or

S. 12(4)(d) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(3), substituted by Nos 45/2005 s. 15(4)(b), 51/2024 s. 18(b).