A market trader who operates throughout Wiltshire including Chippenham, Devizes and Salisbury markets has pleaded guilty to selling an age-restricted product to a child.
Anthony Rose, of Salisbury, the sole director of A N Rose Ltd, pleaded guilty at Salisbury Magistrates Court, to selling a disposable e-cigarette to an under-18 trading standards volunteer at his market stall in August 2022. Mr Rose had failed to ask for appropriate identification or proof of age.
Mr Rose had previously been visited by trading standards officers in February 2022, following a complaint that he was selling age restricted products to children. He was given advice by officers on how to prevent these sales from occurring and informed that he would be subject to a test purchase at his stall in the future.
During the test purchase, the 16-year old volunteer was able to purchase a watermelon flavoured Elf bar, which is a disposable e-cigarette, for £6.
For his actions, Mr Rose was fined a total of £701.96, including costs, on Tuesday 11 April.
Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “As per our Business Plan, we want to promote our safe, compliant and successful traders as examples to others.
“It is illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under the age of 18. We have seen a large increase in vaping products being sold to children, with the products available at pocket money prices and regularly featured on social media channels.
“Trading standards officers work to enforce legislation which prohibits the sale of all age-restricted goods, such as tobacco, alcohol and e-cigarettes, and as this case shows, anyone found doing could be prosecuted. Penalties can include a fine or even imprisonment.
“Businesses have a responsibility to ensure that staff do not sell age-restricted products to people under the legal minimum age. Effective systems that can be used include, age verification checks with ID cards, Challenge 21 or Challenge 25, staff training and using till prompts.
“If you suspect a business is selling age-restricted products to children you can report it by email to tradingstandards@wiltshire.gov.uk or by phone at 0808 223 1133.”
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