Salisbury vape shop fined after selling product to a child
Red Power in Minster Street failed to ask for proof of age during a sale
A shop in Salisbury has been fined almost £1,500 after selling a vaping product to a child.
Red Power Market Ltd, in Minster Street, has been hit with the fine after a seller failed to ask a 15-year-old child for proof of age when buying a vape product, despite the legal age for purchasing the item being 18.
The child was a Trading Standards volunteer carrying out a test sale.
At the hearing, the business owner was issued with a fine of £500 and ordered to pay other costs of £956.42.
Since it opened in October 2023, the store has been the subject of a trio of seizures where illegal tobacco and vape products were found.
Despite this and advice, reports of illegal sales continued - including a number of reports of items being sold to children.
In August, the store was served with a three-month closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, following an application by Wiltshire Council trading standards officers.
The closure order means that only those who are named habitual residents and authorised persons are permitted to enter the address. Anyone else entering the premises is committing a criminal offence and on conviction may be sentenced to 51 weeks imprisonment and/or a fine.
Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:
"This second court hearing for Red Power Market Ltd relates to the sale of a vape product to a child. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in the number of complaints of vaping products being sold to children. With these types of products regularly being sold at pocket money prices, manufactured in bright colours and sweet enticing flavours, young people find them attractive.
"Our advice to all retailers selling these types of products is to train their staff and implement systems to prevent the sale of such items to children under the age of 18. They should also be aware of the potential consequences if they fail to take adequate precautions.
"Officers had previously visited to advise the retailers how to prevent underaged sales prior to the test purchase being carried out, meaning that this further action was taken. I want to thank our trading services team for their diligence and perseverance in this case to achieve these results and showing that we are acting on our Business Plan commitment to safeguard our residents from harm and tackle businesses that aren't complying with the law."