The law will be enforced by the authority's Trading Standards service and businesses that sell to under 18s risk prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.
The Council is also urging traders to implement a 'No ID, no sale' policy and advising 18 and 19 year olds smokers to carry an accredited proof of age card when they buy cigarettes, such as CitizenCard, or other valid form of photo ID, such as passport or driving licence.
Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for Community Services and E-Government, said: 'Most addicted adult smokers began as teenagers. This change in law is to help prevent children and young people from starting in the first place, therefore avoiding the serious health dangers of smoking.
"It is important that employers train staff in the new law. Using a refusals register, which includes a description of customers who are refused sales, can help traders assess how well their staff are adapting to the new law and can help in avoiding mistakes."
Traders will need warning signs in their shops about the new law. Copies of this can be printed off from the end of August at www.tobaccoagechange.co.uk or Trading Standards can post them to businesses.
Teenagers who want to stop smoking can call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 or visit www.gosmokefree.co.uk. Nicotine replacement therapy has been made available on prescription to 12–18 year olds for the first time and can be obtained from GPs and the NHS Stop Smoking Service.
For further information about the County Council’s Trading Standards Service, please visit our Trading Standards advice for businesses pages.
Further useful information for traders is available at www.noidnosale.com and information about CitizenCards is available at www.citizencard.com.
Notes to editors
East Sussex County Council supports 'Challenge 21'. The 'Challenge 21' initiative encourages retailers and licences to seek proof of age from anybody who appears to be under the age of 21.
The Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc) Order 2007 (SI 2007 No 767) amends the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.
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