The Royal Borough of Greenwich has successfully fined two businesses for selling vapes to underage children.
Last month staff members from Thamesmead Post Office on Arnott Close and UZI Mobile and Vape in Eltham pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates Court to offences under the Children and Families Act 2014.
In August 2024, a 16-year-old test purchaser was sold a vape at Thamesmead Post Office. Additionally, after further investigation it was also discovered that there were 385 illegal early morning alcohol sales between 6am and 9am, a time when the premises was not permitted to sell alcohol. This resulted in the store having its alcohol licence taken away.
On 23 April, Mr Yogesh Patel, the shop assistant who made the sale, and business owners Mr Jitendra Patel and Mrs Niki Jitendra Patel pleaded guilty in court and received a total of £9,716 costs and fines.
In another case, following complaints from concerned residents and parents that children had been seen buying vapes from UZI Mobile and Vape in Eltham, in May 2024 two 16-year-old volunteer test purchasers were sold vapes at the store.
On 24 April, the former owner of the store Mr Nasir Ahmad and staff member Mr Ziyrmal Safi, who sold the vapes, were found guilty and fined a total of £1,020 costs and fines.
Mr Ahmad stated during the trial that he had not been in control of the business at the time as he was in the process of selling it and no longer held the key for the premises. Despite this, the court found he was still legally responsible and had failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent underage sales.
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: “This is another example of the council’s no-tolerance approach to the illegal sale of vapes to children. Nicotine vapes are highly addictive and should only be used by adults to help them stop smoking, that is why it is a criminal offence to put vapes in the hands of young people.
“To make sure residents are safe and feel safer, we will continue to hold businesses accountable by enforcing licensing conditions which are there to protect the public. Businesses which are prepared to sell dangerous products to children can expect to face criminal sanctions, hefty fines and the removal of licences.”
To report the illegal sale of vapes or tobacco products, please contact tradingstandards@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or you can report it anonymously on the London Trading Standards website.
