Two businesses have been fined recently for selling nicotine products to minors, Council has confirmed.
The unnamed businesses, based in the ABC borough, were both issued with £250 fixed penalties between April and August of this year.
Council Officers undertake advisory visits to all businesses selling electronic cigarettes, respond to complaints and also conduct test purchase exercises.
Since February 1, 2022 it is an offence to sell nicotine inhaling products, including electronic cigarettes, to persons under the age of 18 in Northern Ireland.
It is also illegal for a person over the age of 18 to buy, or attempt to buy, a nicotine inhaling product, such as an electronic cigarette, on behalf of someone underage.
Penalties for offences of underage sales, or proxy purchasing, are a fixed penalty notice of £250 or, on conviction, a court fine of up to a maximum of level 5 on the standard scale, which is currently £5,000.
A person or a business found to be repeatedly selling nicotine inhaling products to children could receive a Restricted Sales Order or a Restricted Premises Order from the court. Such an order can prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling or tobacco products by a named individual or a business premises for up to three years.
Council receives funding from the Public Health Agency for the role of Tobacco Control Officers in this enforcement work.
