Local stores are being congratulated for enforcing new laws prohibiting the sales of cigarettes to people under 18 years of age.
Trading standards officers carried out a series of test purchases on Monday 18 February. Seven premises that sell tobacco products were visited and none of them agreed to sell cigarettes to the Greenwich Police Cadets who volunteered for the exercise.
These recent tests are a result of the new law that came into force on 1 October 2007, which changed the minimum age of cigarette sales from 16 to 18.
Since then the Council has been reminding traders and store owners of their responsibilities and the penalties they could face. Retailers faces fines of up to £2,000 for selling tobacco products to under age consumers.
Test purchases will continue
Councillor Maureen O’Mara, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said:
"The traders visited in this recent exercise are to be congratulated for their vigilance in upholding the law. The Council takes a dim view of traders who flout the law by selling cigarettes to young people. We will continue to carry out test purchases to make sure other traders are complying with the law."
How do I report underage sales?
If you think a local store is supplying cigarettes to under 18s, call Trading Standards on 020 8921 8377.
12 March 2008