The report will be presented to a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee, at Antrim Civic Centre, on Monday evening. The report indicated in early April, 141 retailers were reminded by letter of the restrictions and informed test purchases would be carried out. Later that month, a test purchasing exercise took place at 15 retailers in the borough by a tobacco control officer accompanied by an under-age teenager.
Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. During the test, the youth attempted to purchase either tobacco products (cigarettes) or nicotine inhaling products (vapes) resulting in three premises selling vapes and one outlet selling cigarettes without checking for identification. As a result, a written warning has been sent to each premises that sold a product to the under-age person advising any “future violations” will result in formal action in accordance with the council’s enforcement policy.
Management of the businesses involved have agreed to provide refresher training for their staff. The local authority has warned a further spot check will be carried out. Throughout the year, tobacco control officers, funded by the Public Health Agency, in each council area, must conduct at least 70 visits to retailers of tobacco and vaping products, including test purchases, to ensure compliance with age-restricted sale legislation.
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