Action against tobacco and aerosol sales to children

Undercover action is taking place to catch shopkeepers who sell tobacco or aerosol paint to children.

Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service has warned that it is continuing to stage inspections, using volunteer children.

Trading Standards helps to enforce the laws which prevent the sale of tobacco products to children aged under 18 and the sale of aerosol paints to children aged under 16.

Over the last year the service has, using test purchases:

• Uncovered fifteen cases of shops that were selling tobacco to children, leading to prosecutions, caution notices or warnings being issued to the businesses concerned

• Uncovered three under-age sales of aerosol paint and issued a warning and given guidance to shopkeepers.

Byron Rhodes, County Council Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said: The law is very clear - shopkeepers must not sell tobacco or aerosol paints to children.

The majority of shopkeepers have been obeying the law. However those that do sell tobacco and aerosol products to children run the risk of being caught by our undercover operations and prosecuted.”

The council’s ruling cabinet will discuss a proposed enforcement programme for the current financial year at its meeting on Tuesday, May 8.

For more information on Leicestershire County Council's Trading Standards Service visit: www.leics.gov.uk/tradingstandards