Two shops fined for selling tobacco products to children

Fines worth a total of more than £6,000 have been handed to two shops for selling tobacco products to underage children.

Tower Hamlets Council’s Trading Standards Team regularly carries out underage sales visits around the borough where children under the age of eighteen try to buy age-restricted products such as tobacco, vapes, knives and alcohol.

These visits are crucial in order to combat unscrupulous traders selling products that have an age restriction because they are potentially harmful to children.

On Tuesday 11 July, Mr Dulal Uddin of Isle of Dogs and DS Store Ltd both pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates Court for selling a packet of 20 Benson and Hedges Gold cigarettes to a 14-year-old girl at CM Newsagent and Off Licence, 51 Poplar High Street, E14 0DJ on 21 December 2022.

Mr Dulal Uddin was fined £440, plus a victim surcharge of £176, with costs of £684, while DS Store Ltd was fined £500, with a victim surcharge of £200 with costs of £684.

During the same operation, a 14-year-old was sold a vape containing nicotine by Vape Store and Essential, in Whitechapel Road, E1.

Mr Yusuf Ali, appearing on behalf of Vape Store and Essential Ltd, pled guilty to an offence of selling a vape containing nicotine to a person under the age of 18.

The company was fined £1,500 for the underage sales offence and ordered to pay an £800 victim surcharge as well as £1892 in prosecution costs.

The company was also fined £500 for failing to display the business ownership details at the shop.

Cllr Kabir Hussain, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said:

“These products are age restricted for a reason – they can cause serious health problems for children and are not suitable for them.

“We will continue to stamp down on those willing to put their profits before the health of children.”

If you suspect that a shop is selling cigarettes, or any other age restricted product to children under the age of 18, please email Tower Hamlets Trading Standards on trading.standards@towerhamlets.gov.uk