Tobacco Legislation

Tobacco product display ban

Since 1 July 2016, it is an offence for retailers in the Isle of Man to display tobacco products. Any business selling tobacco products needs to ensure that they are covered up, and that tobacco prices are only displayed in the formats allowed under the regulations. 

For more information about the law, visit  www.gov.im/oft/tradingstandards/agerestrict/tobacco.xml or click on the ‘Tobacco Display Ban Pictorial Guide’ or ‘Tobacco Control Regulations 2015 Q&A guide’ attached. 

For further queries, contact:

Tobacco vending machine and tobacco advertising ban 

Since 1 July 2016, it is illegal to sell tobacco products from vending machines (automatic machines). Premises with vending machines selling tobacco had to remove tobacco products and advertising labels from the machines. Premises either removed the vending machines totally, or redesigned them for other uses. 

Since 1 July 2016 it is an offence for an Isle of Man based service provider to advertise, or procure the advertisement of, tobacco products on the internet. 

For more information, see the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2015.

Smokefree cars law

Since 30 March 2016, it is illegal to smoke in vehicles with someone under 16 present. The law helps protect children from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Both the driver and the smoker can be fined £50 if anyone smokes in the vehicle, with a maximum fine on conviction of £5,000.

For more information about the law, visit www.gov.im/smokinglegislation or click on the smokefree cars leaflet and poster attached.

For further queries, contact:

Tobacco Legislation: Relevant Acts and Regulations 

There are several pieces of legislation relevant to tobacco legislation on the Island. 

• Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2006 (Original Act); 

• The No-Smoking Premises Regulations 2007 (which came into effect 30 March 2008 banning smoking in enclosed public places and work vehicles); 

• The No-Smoking Premises (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (came into effect 30 March 2016 banning smoking in cars carrying children under 16); 

• Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2015 (came into effect 1 July 2016 and includes banning tobacco vending machines and advertising); 

• Tobacco Control Regulations 2015 (came into effect 1 July 2016 and includes banning tobacco product displays)