Press Releases
HSA Suspends / Revokes Errant Tobacco Retailers Caught Selling Tobacco to Underage Youth (Jun 2012)
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Consumer
Healthcare professional
Industry member
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Others
25 June 2012
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) revokes the licence of 1 errant tobacco retailer and suspends the licences of 5 other tobacco retailers for selling tobacco to underage youth.
2 Kutub Sultan Trading, a tobacco retail outlet at Commonwealth Avenue West, will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products from 25 June 2012 as its licence has been revoked. The outlet was caught by HSA inspectors for blatantly selling cigarettes to a 14 year old youth in school uniform on 17 February 2012. Besides having its licence revoked, the errant seller was also convicted in Court and fined.
3 HSA will also suspend 5 other tobacco retail outlets for 6 months, starting from 25 June 2012 to 24 December 2012, for selling tobacco products to underage youth. The sellers working in these retail outlets who were found guilty of the offence were also individually convicted and fined.
4 HSA reminds all tobacco retailers that they are responsible for all transactions of tobacco 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. In addition, the tobacco retail licence will also 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 underage youth in school uniform or those below 12 years of age, the tobacco retail licence will immediately be revoked, even for the 1st offence.
5 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.
6 HSA takes a serious view of the use and illegal sales of tobacco products to underage youth. We will enforce this prohibition stringently, so as to prevent the illegal sales of tobacco products to underage youth.
7 Members of the public can view the List of Suspended / Revoked Tobacco Retailers at: https://www.hsa.gov.sg/tobacco-regulation/suspended-revoked-licences.
8 HSA also encourages members of the public who have information on the illegal sales of tobacco products to underage youth to call the Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 66842036 or 66842037 during office hours.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
25 JUNE 2012