Leeds retailer in Court

Monday 13 January

On 10th January 2025, Mr Shakil Ahmed BASHIR of Leeds appeared at Kirklees Magistrates Court to answer charges relating to the sale of a disposable e-cigarette to a 15-year-old child at the premises of KASA at 334-336 Dewsbury Road, Leeds, LS11 7DJ. Both Mr BASHIR and his company, Winston Retail Ltd, were to answer the charges.

 

Mr BASHIR pleaded guilty to offences under The Children and Families Act 2014, the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015 and the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, both on his own behalf and on behalf of Winston Retail Ltd. The Magistrates issued Mr BASHIR with a fine of £576 and a victim surcharge of £230. Winston Retail Ltd was issued with a separate fine of £384 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154. A combined order for costs of £2,500 was made against Mr BASHIR and his company. The total penalty was £3,844.

 

The case was launched after West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service received a complaint from a member of the public that the business was selling vapes to children. 

In January 2024, a 15-year-old volunteer entered the shop under the supervision of a Trading Standards Officer and asked to buy a vape. The seller sold an ELUX LEGEND 3500 puff Mr Pink disposable e-cigarette to the volunteer for £12, without asking for identification or challenging his age.

 

It is an offence to sell electronic cigarettes containing nicotine to a person under the age of 18. It is also an offence to sell a disposable electronic cigarette with a tank capacity that exceeds 2 millilitres, or about 600 puffs.

 

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 Pauleen Grahame, Member 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.