{"id":64040,"date":"2024-09-27T15:42:37","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T14:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=64040"},"modified":"2024-09-27T15:42:44","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T14:42:44","slug":"another-shop-owner-in-court-for-selling-vapes-to-an-under-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/another-shop-owner-in-court-for-selling-vapes-to-an-under-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Another shop owner in court for selling vapes to an under 18"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our trading standards service has prosecuted the owner of a vapes shop after he sold vapes to a customer under the age of 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The owner of the shop in Paignton pleaded guilty and he was ordered to pay fines and costs of \u00a33,550 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the second prosecution for selling vapes to an underage customer in the service area in as many months after a shop owner in Bridgwater was sentenced in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now shops that sell vapes are once again reminded to review their procedures for selling age restricted goods to minors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newton Abbott Magistrates Court (Monday September 23) heard that Andrew Hawkins, 44, the owner of Redeye Vapour in Torbay Road Paignton sold two \u2018Cotton Candy Ice\u2019 vapes to a volunteer in February who was part of\u00a0 a test purchasing exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Hawkins was interviewed under caution he accepted that he sold the vapes and that he \u2018hadn\u2019t really looked up\u2019 when serving the volunteer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When shown a photograph of the volunteer he said he thought they looked \u2018about seventeen\u2019 despite his operating a Think 21 scheme in his store, which requires that age verificationchecks are carried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told the bench that he now operates a strict, \u2018No ID, No Sale\u2019 policy and acknowledged that teenagers using vapes was a problem and that some parents buy them for their children, and this is very difficult to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chair of the Magistrates bench pointed out that proxy selling is also an offence under the regulations and that he should take extra care to avoid this in future.<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Alex Fry, Operations Manager at Heart of the Southwest Trading Standards Service, said: <\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

“The business is a dedicated vape shop and should have had rigorous procedures in place to prevent sales to children.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bright colours, sweet flavours and names such as \u2018Cotton Candy Ice\u2019 attract young people, so it is essential that store owners ensure that they do not sell these products to children.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this case it was a basic failure in that he didn\u2019t really look up when he served the volunteer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI urge traders to review and follow their procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council\u2019s Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cI want to again remind businesses of their responsibilities; it is against the law to sell age restricted goods to under 18s and again a shopkeeper failed to carry out an ID check and again they have been prosecuted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who do not follow the regulations are putting their livelihood at risk and we will take court action where necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most effective way to safeguard your businesses is to ask for ID. It\u2019s such a simple thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"placeholder\r\n
\r\n Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

Hawkins was fined \u00a31000, reduced from \u00a31500 for his early guilty plea, and a victim surcharge of \u00a3400. Full costs of \u00a32150 were awarded, A collection order was made to ensure payment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":859,"featured_media":61514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22,34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-economy-and-skills","category-community"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":61514,"title":"Trading Standards Officers loot van","alt":"Trading Standards 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