Retailers with stores near to festivals should be even more cautious when it comes to selling age-restricted products.

That was the advice from Tony Allen, managing director of Under Age Sales, as he warned that retailers could lose their alcohol licence as a consequence of selling age-restricted products to minors.

He also revealed four products that retailers should be wary of this summer.

1. Gas canisters. Butane gas canisters and barbecue lighting sticks should not be sold to anyone under 18 years of age.
2. Hay fever and allergy medicine. Many forms of allergy relief contain chemicals that are illegal to sell to minors.
3. Fireworks and sparklers cannot be sold to anyone under 18.
4. Bladed instruments and cutlery. Bladed instruments, such as Swiss Army knives, are essential for camping but should only be sold to adults. The law doesn’t apply to skewers, scissors, safety razors, and wooden and plastic cutlery.

Allen said retailers are in danger of putting their business at risk if their knowledge of age-restricted products becomes outdated.

“Make sure you’re familiar of the restrictions on your products, and be stringent when it comes to requesting forms of identification from customers who are suspected to be under the legal age to purchase the items,” he added.