Dundee retailer first to be fined for selling cigarettes to under-age customer
An undercover operation has ended with a shop becoming the first in Dundee to be dealt a fixed penalty for selling cigarettes to a child.
- Published in the Courier : 09.02.12
- Published online : 09.02.12 @ 04.12pm
The retailer — which has not identified by the trading standards department — paid £150.
Fixed penalties were brought in by the Scottish Parliament as part of new laws on tobacco sales. Shops that repeatedly flout the rules could end up being temporarily banned from selling tobacco products.
In the Dundee case, a 14-year-old was used in a sting operation to test whether staff were willing to sell a packet of cigarettes to someone well under the minimum age of 18.
Councillor Bob Duncan, convener of the city council's environment committee, said: ''It is extremely disappointing that any shop in Dundee has been caught selling tobacco to young people and our officers will continue to monitor the situation.''
The new laws give local authorities the power to fine shops £200 for a first offence, with a discount for prompt payment. The penalty rises by £200 per time for each future offence and a banning order can be sought after three offences are racked up.
Responsible Tobacco Retailing, an online advice service set up by cigarette maker Gallaher, recommends that shops maintain a robust proof-of-age policy to avoid getting into trouble with the authorities.
It says that staff should ask to see documents such as a driving licence or a Young Scot card if they have any doubts about a customer's age and should also keep a log of any instances in which they have refused a sale.
07.53pm - 09.02.2012 Cory Douglas Campbell - Maryfield, Scotland Report This
Folk who break the law are named and shamed every day in the local papers yet this shop is being protected by the SNP Council? Hypocrites! If you do the the crime, face the music.This sick shop must be named and shamed in order to save other kids
11.03am - 10.02.2012 The Archivist - England, a once glorious England Report This
This makes me laugh- "a 14-year-old was used in a sting operation.....", if wasn't part of this OTT Tobacco Control programme it would be considered as "ENTRAPMENT" but then this law was always made to suit those in power!
11.49am - 10.02.2012 Charles - uk, uk Report This
If the Government was to cut the duty on tobacco products smuggling and counterfeiting would reduce overnight. This would not only increase the takings in our shops but also increase the revenue collected by the Government.
08.05pm - 10.02.2012 Derek - Dundee, United Kingdom Report This
Charles: What does cutting the duty have to do with the sale of tobacco products to under-age customers? Cory: Totally agree with you. The Archivist: Ummm...sounds like you have issues with authority. lol
07.12pm - 12.02.2012 Danny - Dundee, United Kingdom Report This
There is absolutely NO credible reason to cut the duty on tobacco. Smoking costs millions to the NHS (and in turn, the public) each year, and cheaper cigarette will just indirectly encourage smoking. No I have nothing against people smoking, in fact some of my best friends still smokes.
03.27pm - 19.04.2012 IDM - London, england Report This
No such defence as 'entrapment' in UK law Would not be considered entrapment in most of the USA
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