Another shop owner in court for selling vapes to an under 18

Devon County Councils trading standards service has prosecuted the owner of a vapes shop after he sold vapes to a customer under the age of 18.

The owner of the shop in Paignton pleaded guilty and he was ordered to pay fines and costs of £3,550 

It’s the second prosecution for selling vapes to an underage customer in the service area in as many months after a shop owner in Bridgwater was sentenced in August.

Now shops that sell vapes are once again reminded to review their procedures for selling age restricted goods to minors.

Newton Abbott Magistrates Court (Monday September 23) heard that Andrew Hawkins, 44, the owner of Redeye Vapour in Torbay Road Paignton sold two ‘Cotton Candy Ice’ vapes to a volunteer in February who was part of  a test purchasing exercise.

When Hawkins was interviewed under caution he accepted that he sold the vapes and that he ‘hadn’t really looked up’ when serving the volunteer.

When shown a photograph of the volunteer he said he thought they looked ‘about seventeen’ despite his operating a Think 21 scheme in his store, which requires that age verificationchecks are carried out.

He told the bench that he now operates a strict, ‘No ID, No Sale’ policy and acknowledged that teenagers using vapes was a problem and that some parents buy them for their children, and this is very difficult to manage.

The Chair of the Magistrates bench pointed out that proxy selling is also an offence under the regulations and that he should take extra care to avoid this in future.

Hawkins was fined £1000, reduced from £1500 for his early guilty plea, and a victim surcharge of £400. Full costs of £2150 were awarded, A collection order was made to ensure payment.