# Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, Section 73: Purchase of tobacco on behalf of others

Extent: N.I.
Status: prospective

For Article 4A of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1907 (N.I. 26)) substitute—
“Purchase of tobacco etc on behalf of persons born on or after 1 January 2009
4A (1) It is an offence for a person aged 18 or over to buy, or attempt to buy, any of the following on behalf of a person born on or after 1 January 2009—
(a) a tobacco product;
(b) a herbal smoking product;
(c) cigarette papers.
(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this Article to prove that they had no reason to suspect that the other person was born on or after 1 January 2009.
(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this Article in respect of cigarette papers to prove that they had no reason to suspect that the other person intended to use the papers for smoking.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this Article is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.”

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/18/section/73 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/tobacco-and-vapes-act-2026/section-73
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.