Spray paints

What does the law say about the sale of spray paints to young people?

It is an offence to sell an aerosol spray paint to anyone under the age of 16.

Why is this the case?

Aerosol spray paint is commonly used in graffiti vandalism. It is hoped that by banning the sale of spray paint to the under 16s, the incidence of graffiti will be reduced.

Should I display any notices for customers?

There is no legal requirement to display a warning notice, however, you may want to consider displaying them conspicuously as part of your system for avoiding illegal sales. A suitable form of wording might be:

What are the penalties for breaking the law?

If an illegal sale is made, you could be prosecuted and face a fine of up to £2,500. The owner of the business as well as the actual seller can be liable.

What should  do now?

You should set up a system to ensure that you have done all that is reasonable to prevent you or a member of your staff selling aerosol spray paints to young people. You should now read the Preventing underage sales section of this pack for practical guidance on how best to do this.

If you are unsure how old a person is, ask for proof of age. If any doubt remains, always refuse the sale.