HSA Revokes Licence of Retailer Caught Selling Tobacco to 11 Year Old Boy

Public reminded not to buy or supply tobacco products to minors under 18

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has revoked the licence of an errant tobacco retailer – Sunshine Trading Centre at 536, Upper Serangoon Road and suspended the licence of another tobacco retailer, Ghee Huat Provision Shop at 45 Bendemeer Road – for selling tobacco products to minors under 18 years of age.

Retailer's licence revoked

2      The case involving Sunshine Trading Centre came to light when HSA's enforcement officers acted on a tip-off by a member of the public and caught the employee of the retail outlet selling cigarettes to a minor who is only 11 years old. The employee failed to check the age of the young buyer before selling the product to him. For committing the offence, the licence of the tobacco retail outlet was revoked and it will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products from 1 September 2013.

Retailer's licence suspended

3      As for the second case, HSA officers had been observing the vicinity of Ghee Huat Provision Shop and caught the employee selling cigarettes to a 14 year old.

4      The sellers in both cases were convicted in Court and fined for their respective offences(refer to details and photos at Annex A).

5      Retailers and their employees play an important role in ensuring that minors under 18 do not get hold of tobacco products. HSA would like to remind retailers that they are responsible for all transactions of such products taking place at their outlets, as well as for the actions of their employees. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, anyone caught selling tobacco products to persons below the age of 18 is liable, on conviction in Court, to a maximum fine of up to $5,000 for the first offence and up to $10,000 for the second or subsequent offence.

6      In addition, the tobacco retail licence will be suspended for six months for the first offence and revoked for the second offence. However, if any outlet is found selling tobacco products to minors under-18 in school uniform or those below 12 years of age, the tobacco retail licence will be revoked, even at the first offence. The updated List of Suspended / Revoked Tobacco Retailers may be viewed here.

Purchasing tobacco products for minors under-18 is an offence

7      As more retailers take greater responsibility not to sell to minors, HSA is concerned too about minors resorting to getting adults or their friends to help purchase tobacco products for them.

8      HSA warns the public not to buy any tobacco product on behalf of minors. Anyone caught buying or acquiring any tobacco product for a person below the age of 18 years is liable on conviction in Court, to a maximum fine of up to $2,500 for the first offence and up to $5,000 for the second or subsequent offence. Similarly, anyone caught giving or furnishing tobacco product to a person below the age of 18, is liable on conviction in Court, to a maximum fine of up to $500 for the first offence and up to $1,000 for the second or subsequent offence. 13 people have already been apprehended from January to August this year for buying/acquiring offences, as compared to 16 for the entire year of 2012.

9      HSA also reminds the public that persons below the age of 18 who are caught for using, buying or possessing tobacco products are liable on conviction, to a maximum fine of $300. 3,651 minors under 18 have already been caught from January to August this year for such offences, as compared to 5,759 for the entire year of 2012 (refer to Annex B for the details of the number of minors caught).

10     Members of the public who have information on the illegal sales of tobacco products to minors or that of minors smoking to call the Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 66842036 or 66842037 during office hours or to email: HSA_TRB@hsa.gov.sg.

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
4 SEPTEMBER 2013

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