The last gasp for unlawful cigarette traders

Smoking

Trading Standards has promised to crack down children buying cigarettes – after an investigation showed 50% of traders selling to underage parties.

Traders in Rochdale, Middleton and Pennines township all sold to at least half the under 18s which took part in an undercover survey.

The only township which refused all sales was Heywood.

The most sales were in Rochdale; out of 11 traders, six handed over the cigarettes.
Two traders were visited in both Middleton and Pennines, of which one pursued the sale.

Andy Glover, Public Protection Manager at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Unfortunately, these recent test purchases have shown that almost half of the businesses are failing to ask for ID, they should always check for proof of age before selling cigarettes, if they are unsure of a customer’s age.

“Irresponsible trading in the borough will not be tolerated; full investigations of all of these traders will now begin with a view to taking formal action against them.”

It has been illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 since 1 October 2007 when the government decided to raise the legal age limit, from 16, to curb the number of young people and children from becoming smokers.

If the trader or seller is found guilty in a court of law, they face a fine of up to £5000 plus costs.