Shops refuse to sell Christmas crackers to 22-year-old because of explosive risk

Families happily pull them over the festive dinner table bu Christmas crackers are being treated like explosives when young people try to buy them from York stores.

Marks & Spencer and Bhs have warning signs near its crackers display shelves. One said: “Cracker Warning. Explosives Act 1875 Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 2004. It is an offence to sell crackers to persons under the age of 16 years.”

Another sign warned: “The sale of Christmas crackers is governed by the Explosives Act 1875 Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997. It is a criminal offence to sell a product containing explosives to any person under the age of 16 years.”



The store refused to sell a box to student Heather Welsh, 22, unless she could produce proof that she was over 16.

A Marks & Spencer spokesman said: “The signage in-store is on display to alert customers to age-restricted products. It is in compliance with the Explosives Act 1875 and Fireworks Safety Regulations 1997 which states that customers under the age of 16 cannot purchase Christmas crackers or party poppers.”

York MP Hugh Bayley said today: “The shops are complying with the law, but the law is crackers. There should only be such legislation where absolutely necessary.” Selby MP John Grogan said: “It’s completely ridiculous. Sometimes Parliament gets things wrong. I will ask the Business Secretary Peter Mandelson to revise this in time for Christmas 2009.”

With news video.