Two Singapore tobacco retailers have had their licences revoked by the Health Sciences Authority after being caught selling cigarettes to minors.
The retailers are Fair Inn Food Place at 806 Woodlands St and H R Frozen Food and Trading at 205 Choa Chu Kang Central, who will now not be allowed to sell tobacco products for six months.
This was the first offence for both outlets. One of the sellers was an employee, while the other was a co-owner of the retail store. Both sellers had failed to check the age of the minors before selling tobacco products to them. They were caught via HSA’s ground surveillance and enforcement activities to deter the illegal sale of tobacco products to under-18 minors.
“HSA would like to remind tobacco retail licensees that they are responsible for all transactions of tobacco products taking place at their outlets, as well as the actions of their employees,” the regulatory authority said in a statement.
“HSA urges all tobacco retail licensees to educate their employees on the law pertaining to the sale of tobacco products and for sellers to check the age of those who wish to buy tobacco products.”
Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, anyone caught selling tobacco products to persons below the age of 18 is liable, on conviction in court, to a maximum fine of up to $5000 for the first offence and up to $10,000 for the second or subsequent offence. In addition, the tobacco retail licence will be suspended for six months for the first offence and revoked for the second offence. However, if any outlet is found selling tobacco products to under-18 minors in school uniform or those below 12 years of age, the tobacco retail licence will be revoked, even upon the first offence. In the last three years, 25 tobacco retail licences were suspended and 21 were revoked by HSA.
In accordance to the licence application criteria, any person who commits an offence of selling tobacco to a person under 18 years of age will not be eligible to apply for a tobacco retail licence.
