Trading officers monitor compliance with new age limit laws
Council trading standards officers have been carrying out test purchases on businesses in the city following the implementation of the new age restrictions on the purchasing of tobacco.
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The new law, which saw the legal age to purchase cigarettes rise from 16 to 18, was introduced on 1 October.
Officers implemented a two-phase approach to deal with the change in legislation.
The initial stage was designed to help traders who sell tobacco to familiarise themselves with the requirements of the new legislation.
During visits to city premises selling tobacco, community safety officers assessed compliance and provided advice to traders on the new legal signage requirements.
Officers visited 1,032 premises selling tobacco products. Some 317 premises (31 per cent) did not comply with the new legal signage requirements.
Premises which did not comply with the requirements have received 28 day warning letters and will be revisited. Failure to comply with the requirements could attract a fine of up to £1,000.
During phase two, two 15-year-old trained volunteers helped officers by carrying out test purchase visits at various premises across the city.
These visits were used to test compliance with the new age limits.
Under strict, but covert supervision, the volunteers attempted to purchase cigarettes.
All of these visits were carried out using the test purchase protocol endorsed by the Lord Advocate.
During this phase, the officers visited 40 premises. Of these, 18 premises (45 per cent) sold tobacco to the test purchase volunteers.
Verbal warnings were issued to the traders who had made the illegal sales. These were followed up by formal written warnings.
Businesses who declined to sell were written to, notifying them of the test purchase exercise and commending their vigilance.
Steps have now been put in place to ensure that trading standards officers continue to monitor retailers. Anyone who doesn’t adhere to the legislation will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal’s office.
For more information or advice on complying with the legislation, call 0131 529 3030.