New demand for an efficient age control system while selling tobacco, nicotine, alcohol etc. online
In June 2024, the Danish Parliament adopted a law aiming, among other things, to enhance the control of the sale of alcohol, tobacco and nicotine to minors.
According to the new act, webshops selling tobacco, nicotine- e-cigarettes and/or alcohol to consumers must check the age of each consumer by means of e.g. MitID age verification or user registration with passport as from 1 October 2024. The specific age verification method does not have to meet particular requirements, but the solution in question must be able to verify the buyer's age effectively. By way of example, a pop-up box asking whether the buyer is over the age of 18 will no longer suffice.
You can read the press release from the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health concerning the new act here, where you can also access the act itself (in Danish).
The new requirement applies to the webshops that are already required to ensure that no products are sold to consumers under the age limits. Furthermore, the new requirement does not change the signage rules. This means that the rules applicable to the age restriction signs imposed by the Danish Health Authority remain unchanged.
The Danish Safety Technology Authority's supervision of effective age verification systems
The Danish Safety Technology Authority's supervision of effective age verification systems will also start on 1 October 2024.