The owner of a shop in Ipswich that sold vapes to children has been ordered to pay nearly £6,000 by magistrates following a case brought by Suffolk County Council Trading Standards.
Anis Trading Limited, which trades as The Orange Shop in Norwich Road, Ipswich, was fined a total of £1,600 and ordered to pay £3,748 in costs, as well as a victim surcharge of £640.
Its director, Jawad Qazikhani, admitted the business breached the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015 which makes it an offence to sell nicotine inhaling products to persons aged under 18 years.
Ipswich Magistrates Court was told on Monday April 22 that Suffolk Trading Standards received intelligence from the police and complaints from members of the public regarding vapes being sold to under 18s from The Orange Shop.
In May last year Suffolk Trading Standards launched an underage sale operation, and the business sold a ‘Bloody Mary Watermelon Ice’ vape to a child under the age of 18.
After this sale Mr Qazikhani, as the sole director of the company, was interviewed and the business received guidance and advice on age-restricted products. A written warning was also issued.
In September the business was tested again with a further underage sales operation and vapes were sold for a second time.
These included a ‘Solo Pineapple, Peach and Mango 600 puff vape’ and an ‘Elf Bar Mojito 600 puff vape’.
Graham Crisp, Head of Trading Standards for Suffolk County Council, said:
“Mr Qazikhani was warned about selling vapes to underage people but continued to do so and is now reaping the consequences.
“The legislation is there to protect young people, and traders who seek to exploit them for commercial gain can expect us to take action.
“I would like to thank Suffolk Constabulary, school staff, and members of the public for reporting their concerns about The Orange Shop to us.”
Councillor Craig Rivett, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, said:
“Vaping plays a big part in helping smokers to quit, especially when used in conjunction with specialist support from a stop smoking service.
“However, selling vapes to the underage just to make money and seemingly without any regard for the consequences or impact on their health is wholly wrong.
“There can be no excuse for selling vapes to underage people and I congratulate Suffolk Trading Standards for an operation that should serve as a warning to any trader tempted to do so.”
Anyone who suspects that a business is illegally selling vapes can report this in confidence to Suffolk Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
