Press Releases
HSA Suspends / Revokes Errant Tobacco Retailers Caught Selling Tobacco to Underage Youth (May 2011)
Audiences
Consumer
Healthcare professional
Industry member
Product type
Others
31 May 2011
This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will be suspending the licences of 10 tobacco retailers for selling tobacco products to underage youth. In addition, one tobacco retailer's licence will also be revoked as the retail outlet's employee was caught for selling tobacco product to an obviously underage youth in school uniform.
2 As the Authority takes a very serious view of sales of tobacco products to underage youth, all tobacco retailers had earlier been informed that with effect from 1 December 2010, enhanced administrative actions against errant tobacco retailers were revised as below:
i. 1st offence – six months suspension of tobacco retail licence;
ii. 2nd offence – revocation of tobacco retail licence.
3 Tobacco retailers have also been advised that should any outlet be found to have sold tobacco products to obviously underage youth in school uniform or those below 12 years of age, the tobacco retail licence will be revoked, even for the 1st offence.
4 A total of 11 errant tobacco sellers were prosecuted and convicted in March 2011 for selling tobacco to underage youth. Following the conviction of these offences, the Authority will proceed to suspend the licences of the respective 10 tobacco retail outlets for six months, with the earliest starting from 1 June 2011.
5 The tobacco retail licence for one outlet (refer to S/n 3 in Table 1 below) will be revoked as the seller had sold a tobacco product to an obviously underage youth who was in a lower secondary school uniform (short-sleeve white shirt and short pants). Details of the 11 offences are summarized as follows:
Table caption
S/N | Name of Retail Outlet | Address of Retail Outlet | Date of offence | Court actions against seller | Punishment for retailers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7-Eleven | 1189 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-06, Hougang Plaza | 14-Dec-10 | Fine of $1,500 | 6 months suspension (1-Jun-11 to 30-Nov-11) |
2 | Al Bismi Minimart | Blk 247, Tampines Street 21, #01-K1 | 4-Jan-11 | Fine of $2,000 | As above |
3 | Tan Bee Hwa | Blk 90, Whampoa Drive, #01-52 | 13-Jan-11 | Fine of $1,500 | Revocation (from 1-Jun-11 onwards) |
4 | 7-Eleven | 8 Grange Road, #01-08, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard | 5-Dec-10 | As above | 6 months suspension (1-Jul-11 to 31-Dec-11) |
5 | PM Haja Store | Blk 23, Marsiling Drive, #01-145 | 10-Dec-10 | As above | As above |
6 | Pasir Ris 444 Kopi Point Pte Ltd | Blk 444 Pasir Ris Drive 6, #01-102 | 12-Dec-10 | As above | As above |
7 | Teck Guan Minimart | Blk 523, Hougang Ave 6, #01-123 | 14-Dec-10 | As above | As above |
8 | Yak Hong Minimart | Blk 515A, Woodlands Drive 14, #01-183 | 22-Jan-11 | Fine of $2,000 | As above |
9 | Natural Hock Trading | Blk 804, Hougang Central, #01-120 | 7-Jan-11 | Fine of $1,500 | As above |
10 | Ang Eng Hwa Kiosk | Blk 25 Eunos Crescent #01-3063 | 10-Jan-11 | As above | As above |
11 | Bedok Reservoir Minimart | Blk 121, Bedok Reservoir Road, #01-94 | 12-Jan-11 | As above | As above |
6 HSA reminds all tobacco retailers that they are responsible for all transactions of tobacco products carried out by their outlets as well as for the actions of their employees. It is an offence under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act to sell tobacco products to persons below the age of 18. The offence is punishable with a maximum fine of up to $5,000 for the first conviction and up to $10,000 for the second or subsequent conviction. The tobacco retail licences are also liable for suspension or revocation.
7 HSA takes a serious view on the use of tobacco products by underage persons, and consequently, the illegal sale of tobacco products to such underage persons. We will enforce this prohibition stringently so as to prevent the illegal sale of tobacco products to underage youth.
8 Members of the public can view the List of Suspended / Revoked Tobacco Retailers at:
https://www.hsa.gov.sg/tobacco-regulation/suspended-revoked-licences.
9 HSA also encourages members of the public who have information on the illegal sale of tobacco products to call the hotline of the Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 62138930 or 62138931 during office hours.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
31 MAY 2011