Press Releases
HSA Revokes the Licence of Retailer Who Sold Tobacco to Minor in School Uniform, Suspends Five Others
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Consumer
Healthcare professional
Industry member
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12 July 2018
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has revoked the tobacco retail licence of an errant tobacco retailer who sold cigarettes to a minor under 18 years of age who was wearing a school uniform. The licences of five other retailers were suspended for tobacco sales to under-18 minors. These suspensions and revocation took effect between April and June this year. 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 Mohamed Buhari Trading located at 103 Teck Whye Lane was caught selling cigarettes to a minor, aged 17, in school uniform. Its tobacco retail licence was revoked and it will no longer be able to sell tobacco products.
Retail Licences Suspended
3 The other five retail outlets were caught selling cigarettes to under-18 minors for the first time. The suspension prohibits the errant retailers from selling tobacco products for six months. The outlets are Eng Lee & Co at 57 Lengkok Bahru, Hla Lay New at 303 Jurong East Street 32, Kee Guan Huat Supermarket at Blk 308 Clementi Avenue 4, Sathya Mini Mart at 242 Serangoon Avenue 3 and 7-Eleven at 30 Simei Street 3.
4 One of the sellers had sold to a minor as young as 13 years old and claimed she had not checked for any identification because she was unwell.
5 The other sellers had claimed that they had not requested for any identification because they were busy or that the minors looked older than they were. Sellers take the risk of contravening the laws if they assess age by mere physical appearance of the buyer.
Reminder to Retailers
6 HSA takes a stern approach towards errant retailers and will not hesitate to take prosecution actions against them. Tobacco retail licensees are reminded that they are responsible for all transactions of tobacco products taking place at their outlets, as well as the actions of their employees.
7 All tobacco retail licensees are reminded 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.
8 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 2015 to date, 73 tobacco retail licences were suspended and 11 were revoked by HSA.
9 In accordance with 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.
10 Members of the public can view the updated List of Suspended / Revoked Tobacco Retailers here.
Reminder to Members of the Public
11 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 2015 to date, 18 individuals have been caught for such offences.
12 HSA encourages members of the public who have information on the illegal sale or supply 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
12 JULY 2018