physical verification ID

Petrol stations introduce strict age check on smokes: also show ID if you are 80

Published on 06-10-2025 at 10:59

De tankstationbranche in Nederland houdt zich streng aan de nieuwe regels voor de verkoop van rookwaren. — Iedereen die in een tankstation rookwaren wil kopen, moet vanaf 1 oktober via paspoort, rijbewijs of ID worden gecheckt of de persoon 18 jaar of ouder is.

The petrol station industry in the Netherlands is strictly adhering to new rules on the sale of smoking products. This means that since 1 October 2025, anyone wishing to buy cigarettes, tobacco, cigars or vapes at a petrol station will be asked to show a valid ID on which it can be determined whether someone is 18 years of age or older. Van Staveren’s manned petrol stations, among others, operate a ‘100% age check’.

Van Staveren reports on its own site that in the company’s manned petrol stations, a ‘100% age check’ will be applied when purchasing tobacco products from 1 October 2025. No ID is no sale, the company says. This means guests will always be asked to show a valid ID. The check will take place through a physical ID check, as is already common practice. What is new is that this is now done with every purchase, regardless of the visitor’s age.

Strict and careful

The industry organisations Bovag, Drive, Nove and Vemobin have jointly agreed that, with effect from 1 October 2025, their members will scrupulously check all customers wishing to buy smokables in a petrol station whether a person is 18 years of age or older and thus entitled to purchase smokables. This check must be done by physically checking a valid ID, such as a passport, driving licence or identity card. Passes such as a public transport chip card, school pass or student pass do not count as valid ID. Age can also be determined using special equipment. In addition, it must be indicated in the sales area that the age limit for tobacco sales is 18 years. This notice must be clearly visible and legible.

Protection

The stricter age check when buying smoking at petrol stations is there to protect employees from the increase in aggression and violence and to remain accepted as a sales channel until 2030, according to the industry associations. Research by the NVWA earlier showed that compliance with the 18-year-old age limit is substandard. If tobacco is still sold to someone who is not 18 or older, the sales channel could be fined.

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This article was automatically translated from the Dutch language original to English (British).

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