Message not getting through to some tobacco retailers

A tobacco retailer in the Buller District is likely to face a fine of $500 after being caught selling cigarettes to an underage customer in late January.

During Community & Public Health’s controlled purchase operation, visiting 22 premises in the Buller, Grey and Westland Districts, one tobacco retailer sold cigarettes to a young person under the age of 18.

West Coast Medical Officer of Health, Dr Cheryl Brunton, was very disappointed by the sale.

“We have been carrying out retailer education visits and tobacco controlled purchase operations for many years now. All retailers have to do is ask for proof of age identification from any customers who appear to be under 25 years of age,” she said. “It is particularly disappointing that another retailer has sold cigarettes to an underage volunteer.”

Controlled purchase operations are carried out by smokefree enforcement officers using an underage volunteer. They are a way of ensuring that tobacco retailers comply with the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to people under 18 years of age. Before the controlled purchase operations each tobacco retailer is visited by a Community & Public Health staff member to ensure that they are aware of their legal obligations around selling tobacco.

The retailer who made the tobacco sale has been referred to the Ministry of Health and will be issued with an infringement notice that can carry a $500 fine.

Dr Brunton urges retailers to be vigilant and always ask for ID if they have any questions about a person’s age before selling a tobacco product.

“Smoking is very addictive. It is important to protect young people from the negative health impacts of smoking for as long as possible. Most retailers are doing the right thing. However, Community & Public Health will continue undertaking controlled purchase operations at regular intervals to ensure retailers are following the law," Dr Brunton says.

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