Newport City Trading Standards : Vape sold to underage teenager

Shahram Bakir Ahmed, trading as Four Seasons in Commercial Street, was fined £390 and order to pay £799 costs plus a £154 victim surcharge by Cwmbran magistrates.

Earlier this year, trading standards officers received information that a vape had been sold to someone aged under 18.

They visited the shop, gave advice about the sale of age-restricted goods and left an information pack detailing the same advice.

Following further concerns, a female volunteer visited the premises less than a month later and was sold a nicotine inhaling product, namely an Elf Bar disposable vape, by an employee.

Further complaints were received about the premises and it was closed under an ASB order in July for the sale of illegal tobacco, illegal vapes and the sale of vapes to underage persons. It remains closed until the expiration of an extended closure order until 25 January 2024.

Councillor James Clarke, cabinet member for strategic planning, housing and regulation, said: “This shop was told in no uncertain terms that selling vapes to under-18s was illegal so there is no excuse for the sale that led to this court case.

“The worries about children and young people using these products is well documented and the council takes the issue extremely seriously. I would like to congratulate our officers for their diligence in this case and I hope it sends a message to other retailers.”

 Photos by E-Liquids UK & Karl Edwards on Unsplash