Victorian Current Acts Victorian Current ActsS. 12(1) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 43/2000 s. 12(1)(a), 49/2009 s. 27(1), 55/2016 s. 9(10)(p).
(1) A person must not sell a tobacco product or e‑cigarette product to a person under the age of 18 years.
Penalty: In the case of a natural person, 120 penalty units;
In the case of a body corporate, 600 penalty units.
S. 12(2) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 45/2005 s. 15(1), 49/2009 s. 27(2), 55/2016 s. 9(10)(p).
(2) A person must not purchase a tobacco product or e-cigarette product for the use of a person under the age of 18 years.
Penalty: In the case of a natural person, 20 penalty units;
In the case of a body corporate, 100 penalty units.
S. 12(3) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 43/2000 s. 12(1)(b), substituted by No. 49/2009 s. 27(3).
(3) The occupier of premises on which a vending machine is situated must not permit a person under the age of 18 years to obtain a tobacco product from that vending machine.
Penalty: In the case of a natural person, 60 penalty units;
In the case of a body corporate, 300 penalty units.
S. 12(3A) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2), substituted by No. 45/2005 s. 15(2).
(3A) If a person (the primary offender ) commits an offence against subsection (1), each manager of the primary offender (if any) also commits an offence against that subsection.
S. 12(3B) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2), substituted by No. 45/2005 s. 15(2).
(3B) Proceedings for an offence committed by a manager because of subsection (3A) may be brought whether or not proceedings have been brought against the primary offender and whether or not the primary offender has been convicted.
S. 12(3C) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2).
(3C) If an offence is committed against subsection (1) on premises at which a business is carried on, it must be presumed, unless the contrary is established, that the offence was committed in the course of the carrying on of that business.
S. 12(3D) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(2), repealed by No. 45/2005 s. 15(3).
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(4) It is a defence to a prosecution under this section if a person proves that he or she—
S. 12(4)(a) amended by No. 83/1993 s. 4, repealed by No. 45/2005 s. 15(4)(a).
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S. 12(4)(b) amended by Nos 83/1993 s. 4, 43/2000 s. 12(3), repealed by No. 45/2005 s. 15(4)(a).
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S. 12(4)(c) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(3).
(c) at the time of the alleged offence, had seen an evidence of age document of the person whose age is material to the offence, indicating that the person is of or over the age of 18 years; or
S. 12(4)(d) inserted by No. 43/2000 s. 12(3), substituted by No. 45/2005 s. 15(4)(b).
(d) in the case of a prosecution against a manager for an offence against subsection (1)—
(i) had no knowledge of the primary offence; and
(ii) had taken prevention measures in relation to the primary offender.
S. 12(5) inserted by No. 45/2005 s. 15(5).
(5) In this section—
S. 12(5) def. of manager amended by No. 55/2016 s. 9(10)(q).
"manager" of a primary offender, means—
(a) an employer of the primary offender; or
(b) a person who authorised the primary offender to sell tobacco products or e‑cigarette products as the person's agent; or
(c) if the primary offence was committed in the course of carrying on a business—a person who owns, manages, controls, conducts or operates that business;
S. 12(5) def. of prevention measures amended by No. 55/2016 s. 9(10)(r).
"prevention measures" by a manager in relation to a primary offender, means doing the following things at intervals not exceeding 6 months—
(a) instructing the primary offender—
(i) not to sell tobacco products or e‑cigarette products to a person under the age of 18 years in any circumstances, even if the tobacco products or e-cigarette products are for, or claimed to be for, a person over that age; and
(ii) to sight an evidence of age document for a person before selling a tobacco product or e‑cigarette product to the person; and
(b) warning the primary offender that if the primary offender sells tobacco products or e-cigarette products to a person under the age of 18 years in disregard of the instructions mentioned in paragraph (a), the primary offender commits an offence against this Act; and
(c) obtaining written acknowledgement by the primary offender that the primary offender received the instructions and warning mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b);
"primary offence" means the offence committed by the primary offender;
primary offender has the meaning given in subsection (3A).
S. 13 amended by Nos 16/1997 s. 120, 43/2000 s. 22(1)(a), 114/2003 s. 12.1.3 (Sch. 6 item 13.2), substituted by No. 45/2005 s. 16.