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Crackdown on retailers selling cigarettes to minors
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Posted: 24/01/2012
WODONGA Council is urging local tobacco retailers to be more diligent in selling cigarettes and other associated products to people who may be underage.
The council's environmental health team conducts an ongoing test purchase program throughout the city to ensure tobacco retailers comply with the laws prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to people under 18 years of age.
This program is funded and endorsed by the Department of Health and involves a person under the age of 18 conducting a test purchase in tobacco retail outlets.
Wodonga tobacco retailers have been caught selling cigarettes to children under 18 years by the council's environmental health team according to a report at last night's council meeting.
In the team's latest routine checks, seven retailers were tested, resulting in four sales to a minor occurring with the proprietor of the premise or seller being issued with penalty infringement notices.
Director business services Trevor Ierino said this could be a one-off small sample, however, it is showing that retailers are doing the wrong thing.
“Retailers must understand that selling cigarettes to children under the age of 18 is unacceptable,” he said.
“If they have doubt about the age of a customer trying to buy cigarettes, they should ask for proof of age.
"Doing this could help prevent teenage smoking and reduce tobacco-related disease in the future.”
Mr Ierino said the test purchase program has been successful in the past and hoped future results would reflect tobacco retailers continuing to abide by the law.
Test purchase program by financial year:
- July, 2009 to June, 2010 - 19 tests resulting in zero sales
- July, 2010 to June, 2011 – 25 tests resulting in three sales
- July, 2011 to June, 2012 – Seven tests resulting in four sales (part year figures)
People concerned about retailers selling to children should ring the council's environmental health team on (02) 6022 9300 or the Tobacco Information Line on 1300 136 775.
Information on tobacco laws is available at health.vic.gov.au/tobaccoreforms
