HSA Suspends the Licences of Six Retailers Caught Selling Tobacco to Under-18 Minors

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has suspended the licences of six errant tobacco retailers for selling tobacco products to minors under 18 years of age. The errant retailers will not be allowed to sell tobacco products for six months. (Refer to Annex A for the list of retailers and photos.)

2          The six sellers, who are employees of the respective retail outlets, failed to check the age of the minors before selling cigarettes to them. They were caught via HSA’s routine surveillance and enforcement activities to deter the illegal sale of tobacco products to under-18 minors. The sellers have been convicted in Court and fined with sums ranging from $1,500 to $2,000 for their respective offences.

Reminder to retailers on the need to educate their employees

3          As those caught selling tobacco to minors in all six cases were employees of the suspended outlets, 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 for the actions of their employees. 

4          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.

5          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.

Reminder to members of the public not to supply tobacco products to under-18 minors

6         HSA also reminds 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 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 2011 till July 2014, 38 people have been caught for such offences.

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

8        HSA encourages members of the public who have information on the illegal sales 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
24 SEPTEMBER 2014

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