Tobacco vending machines

Can I sell tobacco products from a vending machine?

Yes, tobacco products can be sold from a vending machine if it is located within liquor licenced premises or a staff hospitality area at a mining site.

The manager of the area is responsible for ensuring that tobacco products from a vending machine cannot be purchased or obtained by a child (a person under the age of 18 years).

You should ask for proof of identification from anyone attempting to purchase tobacco products from a vending machine that appears under the age of 25 years or whom you believe is not of legal age to purchase tobacco products.

Where can tobacco product vending machines be located within a licenced premise?

Tobacco licence holders must ensure that tobacco vending machines are positioned in an area of the liquor licensed premises or staff hospitality area of a mine site, so that it can be monitored and is clearly visible to the manager or employees at all times during the day.

A maximum of two tobacco product vending machines can be located at the liquor licenced premises or mine site.

Can price tickets be displayed on tobacco product vending machines?

Yes, price tickets can be displayed on tobacco product vending machines if they meet the following requirements:

  • All price tickets must have the same colour lettering and background on all vending machines at the premises.
  • All lettering and numbering must be the same height (maximum 8 mm) on all vending machines at the premises.
  • Tickets of maximum 35 cm2 in size can be used to advertise the price of cigarette packets and must be black text on white background, or white text on a black background.
  • No more than four price tickets can be displayed for each product line available. 
  • Ad hoc or special tickets and tickets showing a sale or saving are not permitted.
Can I display a product information sign or price board for a tobacco product vending machine?

A tobacco product vending machine may display a product information sign or price board, but only if price tickets are not displayed. Refer to the question above.

Do I have to display a health warning sign for a tobacco product vending machine?

Yes. If you display price tickets, a product information sign or a price board on the vending machine, you must also display a health warning sign. A health warning sign must be clearly visible to a customer when purchasing a tobacco product from the vending machine.

One of the following health warning signs must be located adjacent to the price tickets that accompany a vending machine. The health warning sign must be A4 (297 mm x 210 mm) in size, or A5 (210 mm x 148 mm) in the case of a tobacco vending machine that is too small to display an A4 sized health warning sign.

Banner: smoking causes emphysema Banner: smoking causes peripheral vascular disease

Banner: smoking causes blindness Banner: smoking causes throat cancer

What other signs must I display for a tobacco product vending machine?

An A5 sized warning sign about the prohibition on the sale of tobacco products and smoking implements to underage persons must be clearly visible to a customer when purchasing tobacco products or smoking implements from a vending machine.

Banner: it is illegal to sell a tobacco product or smoking implement to anyone under 18 or purchase on their behalf.

Last reviewed: 19-02-2020
Produced by

Tobacco Control Branch