Bradford business receives significant penalty for underage sale of electronic cigarette

Friday 20 December

On the 19th  December 2024, Vape Dawg Ltd, and the company Director Vakace Ali appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court to answer the charges of selling a disposable electronic cigarettes to a 15-year-old child. Mr Ali pleaded guilty as the seller and on behalf of the company to the offences under The Children and Families Act 2014 and the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015.The business was issued a fine of £2000, victim surcharge of £800 and costs of £2000 totalling £4800 for the company. Mr Ali was given credit for entering an early guilty plea and was issued with a fine of £500, a victim surcharge of £200 and costs of £828.77, totalling £1528.77.

 

The case was launched after West Yorkshire Trading Standards received a complaint regarding the premises selling electronic cigarettes to children under the age of 18.

In April 2024, a 15-year-old volunteer entered the shop, under the supervision of a Trading Standards Officer, and asked to buy an electronic cigarette. The seller sold an Elf Bar 600 blueberry kiwi electronic for £5, without asking for identification or challenging his age. It is an offence to sell electronic cigarettes to person under the age of eighteen. Mr Ali was interviewed later where he admitted on behalf of the company that the sale had been made and that he had sold the electronic cigarette himself.

 

Mr Ali stated he is the only employee of the company but has assistance from family members to cover when necessary and that he had received no formal training in the sale of electronic cigarettes as he had no previous retail experience. The business had no written procedures for the sale of electronic cigarettes but did have a record of refusals and warning signs on display.

 

David Strover, Head of Trading Standards - Business Services said, “the sale of disposable e-cigarettes to children should not be happening within our communities. The business was previously warned that complaints had been received and that a test purchase may follow. Vapes are for adult use to help smokers kick the habit and the sale of these products to children is unacceptable. The risk to juveniles of using vapes should not be underestimated, so retailers must ensure they implement rigorous systems to avoid the selling of vapes to minors and staff must be trained accordingly. I would encourage everyone to report illegal sales, including partners and members of the public, to reduce the harm caused by vapes and tobacco in our communities.”

 

Councillor Sue Duffy, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee that oversees the work of Trading Standards said “it is clearly irresponsible not to check the age of teenage customers wanting to purchase age restricted goods. Test purchases are undertaken regularly by Trading Standards staff to ensure shops adhere to the law on vapes.   The simple task of asking for identification and verifying the age of younger customers will help to reduce underage vaping. “

 

Consumers wishing to report illegal trading practices, including the sale of age restricted goods to children can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 to report their concerns - this can be done anonymously.