Updated: 09/24/2014 16:35 | By Channel NewsAsia
Six retailers' licences suspended for selling tobacco to minors
SINGAPORE: The licences of six tobacco retailers have been revoked for selling tobacco products to minors under 18 years of age, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced in a media release on Wednesday (Sep 24).
The six retailers are: 7-Eleven, located at 21 Tampines North Drive 2 #01-03 Lullie Mart at 55 Lengkok Bahru Ramadan Mini Mart at 53 Sims Place One Family Pte Ltd at Yew Tee Shopping Centre T K T Minisupermarket at 742 Woodlands Circle Huang Restaurant at 848 Yishun Street 81
Employees from the respective sellers failed to check the age of the minors before selling cigarettes to them, according to the HSA. The sellers were caught as a result of HSA's routine surveillance and enforcement activities.
Each seller has been convicted in court and fined sums ranging from S$1,500 to S$2,000 for their respective offences, the release stated, and will not be allowed to sell tobacco products for six months.
Anyone caught selling tobacco products to minors under the age of 18 can be fined up to S$5,000 for the first offence and S$10,000 for the second offence. The retailer's tobacco licences will be suspended for six months for the first offence, and subsequently revoked for the second offence. A seller's licence will be revoked at the first offence if found to have sold tobacco products to under-18 minors in school uniform, or those below 12 years of age.
In addition, anyone caught providing or giving tobacco products to minors under 18 years of age can be fined up to S$500 for the first offence and S$1,000 for the second or subsequent offences. 38 people have been caught for such offences from 2011 to July 2014, according to the HSA. - CNA/dl
