HSA Revokes the Licence of Retailer Who Sold Tobacco to Minor in School Uniform, Suspends Twelve Others

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 12 other retailers were suspended between May to July this year for tobacco sales to under-18 minors. 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.)

2          All 13 sellers did not ask for any form of identification to check the buyers’ age.  They had claimed that 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. 

Retail Licence Revoked

3         Value Supermart located at 301 Serangoon Avenue 2 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 Its tobacco retail licence was revoked and it will no longer be able to sell tobacco products.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

4          The remaining twelve 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:

Reminder to Retailers

5          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. 

6          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.

7          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, 53 tobacco retail licences were suspended and 9 were revoked by HSA.

8          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.

9          Members of the public can view the updated List of Suspended / Revoked Tobacco Retailers here.

Reminder to Members of the Public

10         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, 17 individuals have been caught for such offences.

11        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
16 AUGUST 2017

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