Tividale shop fined for selling cigarettes to children
A shop has been fined after twice selling cigarettes to underage customers.
The shop in Tividale was caught in a sting by Sandwell Council trading standards when they sent in an underage volunteer to try to buy cigarettes.
That's after the premises had previously sold tobacco to another underage volunteer in a 'test purchase operation', despite receiving advice and warnings from the trading standards team.
At Sandwell Magistrates' Court on Tuesday Mohammed Farooq, the director of Tividale Foodstore Ltd in Tividale Road, Oldbury, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to one offence of selling cigarettes to a person under the age of 18, contrary to the Children and Young Persons Act.
The court imposed a fine of £600, and also ordered him to pay £750 towards the costs of the case and a £60 victim surcharge.
In all, magistrates ordered the company to pay a total of £1,410, payable in 14 days.
Bob Charnley, Sandwell trading standards and licensing manager, said: "There is a strong link between smoking and health-related issues.
"We are committed to protecting the health of young people and will take action against shops who sell cigarettes to children.
"We work hard with retailers through advisory visits to make sure that they understand their responsibilities and are aware of the consequences if they do sell to minors.
"The message to businesses is clear - you must not sell cigarettes to children and this fine should act as a deterrent to businesses who fail to take adequate steps to prevent the sale of cigarettes to children."
