Press Releases
HSA Revokes Licence of Retailer Who Sold Tobacco to Minor in School Uniform and Suspends Licences of Five Other Tobacco Retailers
Audiences
Consumer
Healthcare professional
Industry member
Product type
Others
5 July 2016
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has revoked the tobacco retail licence of one retailer and suspended the tobacco retail licences of five other errant tobacco retailers who sold tobacco products to minors under 18 years of age. They were caught via HSA’s ground surveillance and enforcement activities to deter the illegal sale of tobacco products to under-18 minors. (Please refer to Annex A in the pdf for the list of retailers and photos.)
Retail Licence Revoked
2 Song Hui Kiosk, located in Ang Mo Kio, had sold tobacco products to a minor, aged 14, who was in school uniform. Its tobacco retail licence was revoked and it will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products.
Retail Licences Suspended
3 The five other outlets which sold tobacco products to under-18 minors for the first time had their retail licences suspended. The outlets are Shivaranjani Minimart, 26 Foodloft, Al Kaaba Mini-Mart, Sin Hup Lee Store, and O A Jalil. The suspension will prohibit the errant retailers from selling tobacco products for six months.
Reminder to Retailers
4 HSA would like to remind tobacco retail licensees that they are responsible for all transactions of tobacco products taking place at their outlets, as well as the actions of their employees.
5 HSA urges all tobacco retail licensees to educate their employees on the law pertaining to the sale of tobacco products and for sellers to check the age of those who wish to buy tobacco products.
6 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. In addition, the tobacco retail licence will be suspended for 6 months for the first offence and revoked for the second offence. However, if any outlet is found selling tobacco products to under-18 minors in school uniform or those below 12 years of age, the tobacco retail licence will be revoked, even at the first offence. From 2013 to date, 32 tobacco retail licences were suspended and 22 were revoked by HSA.
7 In accordance to the licence application criteria, any person who commits an offence of selling tobacco to a person under 18 years of age will not be eligible to apply for a tobacco retail licence.
8 Members of the public can view the updated List of Suspended / Revoked Tobacco Retailers here.
Reminder to Members of the Public
9 HSA would also like to remind the public not to supply any tobacco products to under-18 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 any 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. From 2013 to May 2016, 48 individuals have been caught for such offences.
10 HSA encourages members of the public who have information on the illegal sale of tobacco products to under-18 minors to call the Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 66842036 or 66842037 during office hours.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
5 JULY 2016