▁is ▁no ▁stated ▁age ▁under ▁which ▁it ▁is ▁illegal ▁to ▁consume ▁to b acco , ▁although ▁an ▁officer ▁has ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁conf isc ate ▁to b acco ▁if ▁the ▁individual ▁concerned ▁is ▁in ▁a ▁public ▁place ▁and ▁under ▁six teen ▁years ▁of ▁age . ▁ ▁Scotland ▁ ▁Until ▁ 3 0 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁the ▁minimum ▁age ▁to ▁purchase ▁and ▁consume ▁to b acco ▁products ▁in ▁public ▁was ▁ 1 6 ▁years ▁of ▁age . ▁From ▁ 3 0 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁the ▁Tob acco ▁and ▁Primary ▁Medical ▁Services ▁( Sc ot land ) ▁Act ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁became ▁effective , ▁raising ▁the ▁minimum ▁purchase , ▁consumption ▁and ▁possession ▁age ▁to ▁ 1 8 ▁years ▁of ▁age . ▁ ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁ ▁Until ▁ 3 1 ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁minimum ▁age ▁to ▁purchase ▁and ▁consume ▁to b acco ▁products ▁in ▁public ▁was ▁ 1 6 ▁years ▁of ▁age . ▁From ▁ 1 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁the ▁Children ▁and ▁Young ▁Pers ons ▁( S ale ▁of ▁Tob acco ▁etc .) ▁Reg ulations ▁( N or thern ▁Ireland ) ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁became ▁effective , ▁raising ▁the ▁minimum ▁purchase , ▁consumption ▁and ▁possession ▁age ▁to ▁ 1 8 ▁years ▁of ▁age . ▁ ▁Sm oking ▁ban ▁ ▁Sm oking ▁in ▁work p laces ▁and ▁en closed ▁public ▁spaces ▁has ▁been ▁illegal ▁since ▁ 2 6 ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁in ▁Scotland , ▁▁