Two shops in the Northamptonshire County Council were caught in a "sting" operation for potential sale of electronic cigarettes to minors under the age of 18, and may face substantial fines.
A trade standards team oversaw a 16-year-old volunteer conducting tests on eight shops in Northampton and Daventry following complaints about the sale of goods to underage individuals. It is illegal to sell e-cigarettes, including those containing nicotine, to anyone under the age of 18.
Out of eight stores, six correctly requested identification from the girl and refused to sell to her when she was unable to provide proof of age. However, two individuals who illegally sold e-cigarettes without verifying the girl's age will now face further investigation, potentially resulting in prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.
David Smith, a member of the cabinet responsible for community safety in WNC, stated, "Young people often push boundaries and seek new experiences, but tobacco is highly addictive and has significant health impacts. It should not be sold to children.
I believe that parents in Northwest Northamptonshire will join me in expressing gratitude to our trading standards team, who have been monitoring shopkeepers that forget their duty to the community when breaking the law in this manner.
This operation took place after two crackdowns in April and August, during which it was discovered that two out of 18 stores sold electronic cigarettes to 16-year-olds. The local shop owners were also reminded to conduct age verification checks before selling tobacco or e-cigarettes.
Most businesses adhere to the Challenge 25 policy. If a customer appears to be under the age of 25, they will be required to provide proof of age and staff must be trained to verify the age of the customer before selling any age-restricted products.
Some disposable e-cigarettes come in multiple sweet flavors and colors, available for purchase at just £5.
The Northamptonshire County Council has stated that it will continue to commit to monitoring the illegal sale of products to minors.
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