Belfastlive: New Rules to Double Fine for Selling E-Cigarettes to Minors

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Jan.08.2024
Belfastlive: New Rules to Double Fine for Selling E-Cigarettes to Minors
Shops selling e-cigarettes to minors in Lisburn and Castlereagh may face doubled fines of £500, according to Belfastlive.

According to a report by Belfastlive on January 5th, shops selling e-cigarettes to minors may face a new regulation that could double the fine to £500. This measure will be implemented in the Lisburn and Castlereagh areas.

 

The Environmental Committee recently reviewed a report on product test purchases, which highlighted that out of the 36 surveyed shops, five were caught selling nicotine inhalation products to a 15-year-old volunteer. This constitutes a serious violation of the legal requirement for a minimum purchasing age of 18.

 

James Bell, the city councillor for the East District of Daniel County, has raised concerns about current regulations, suggesting that a £250 fine may not be severe enough for selling e-cigarettes to minors. He advocates for increasing the fine to £500 to have a stronger deterrent effect. Pat Carty, the representative of the Social Democrats and Labour Party in North Lisbon, also emphasized a zero-tolerance stance on child protection.

 

The head of the environmental department has responded by stating that if these fines are not established in next year's tax rates, they will consider making modifications. If they are already included in the regulations, the council's proposal to increase fixed penalties will be reported to the relevant departments. This new regulation aims to strengthen the regulation of e-cigarette sales, especially when it involves minors.

 

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