Shopkeeper prosecuted for selling e-cigarette to under-18s

Gloucestershire County Council’s trading standards service carried out an underage sales test purchase exercise in January 2023. Young volunteers were sent into stores to see if they were able to buy an e-cigarette, commonly known as a vape.

The law prohibits the sale of vapes that contain nicotine to people under the age of 18.

Podsmead Post Office, in Scott Avenue, Podsmead, sold a Blueberry Sour Raspberry Elf Bar single use vape to two volunteers under 18. No attempt was made to verify their age or ask for any form of identification.

The vape cost £6.99 and the packaging was marked with the warning that it contains nicotine and was for over-18s only.

Theiventhiran Thavanesan, owner of Podsmead Post Office, pleaded guilty to selling an e-cigarette to a person under 18 years old when he appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Monday 11 December 2023.

Magistrates heard that the store had previously been advised on several occasions in relation to underage sales and had been offered free access to training materials and guidance. Despite this advice, an illegal sale was made so trading standards brought the prosecution.

Thavanesan, aged 45, was fined £1,000 with a £400 victim surcharge and was ordered to pay £1,687 in costs.

Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member for trading standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We will not tolerate the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to children in the county. This business was offered advice to ensure they were compliant with the law but chose to ignore this.

“Vaping is not harmless as it still contains nicotine, which is addictive, so it is important that young people are prevented from buying e-vapes and e-cigarettes. We will continue to carry out these test purchases to ensure our young people are kept safe from those who put their own profits above the health of others.”

Siobhan Farmer, Director of Public Health at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Vapes can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers and whilst they are less harmful than smoking, they are not risk-free. Vaping is not for children and young people, whose developing lungs and brains are more sensitive to its effects. We know that increasing numbers of young people are taking up vaping so my key message to them is don’t smoke and don’t start to vape.”