South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 28/02/2013

Mr Kawan Fakhradn, formerly of Village Mini Market, High Street, Staple Hill was found guilty by North Avon Magistrates on Monday 25 February. Mr Fakhradn has now ceased trading in the area and was found guilty in his absence.

Trading Standards officers conducted an underage tobacco test purchase check on 22 September last year, where two 16 year old volunteers were able to buy hand rolling tobacco which came with cigarette papers from the business owner Mr Fakhradn, without being challenged or asked for identification. Mr Fakhradn was ordered to pay a fine of £400 plus costs of £1,095.34 and a £15 victim surcharge.

It is an offence under the Children & Young Persons Act 1933 for any person to sell tobacco or cigarette papers to a person under the age of 18 years. The maximum penalty is a fine of up to £2,500.

Trading Standards had already provided advice and training materials to the business in order to ensure compliance with the law and prevent sales of age restricted products to under 18s, but the business had failed to take this advice on board.

Ten premises within South Gloucestershire were visited that day and Mr Fakhradn was the only retailer who sold tobacco to the under age volunteers.

Chair of the Communities Committee, Cllr Claire Young, said: “Smoking has both short and long term implications for the health of our young people. I hope that the business learns from this and that it reminds other businesses of the importance of asking individuals for proof of age.”

Strong, Safer Communities Manager, Mark Pullin added: “I would like to congratulate the nine businesses who refused to sell tobacco to the volunteers which demonstrates a high compliance rate of businesses in South Gloucestershire.”